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Google Buys Fitbit for $2.1B

cnbc.com

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Re: Google Buys Fitbit for $2.1B

#181

Post by jchook »

kerng wrote: post #46

Vic Gundotra (VP Google) said back when Microsoft bought Nokia that "two turkeys don't make an eagle". Google officially has become the Microosft of the mid 2000s. Lack of direction and innovation, buying up companies just for the sake of it. Here is a link to Google's anology: https://www.techspot.com/news/42338-google-attacks-nokia-and...

80% to 90% of Google’s revenue derives from collecting your personal information, and you think that buying a wristband that tracks the biometrics of 25 million people is “just for the sake of it”?

Re: Google Buys Fitbit for $2.1B

#183

Post by raldi »

braythwayt wrote: post #177
raldi wrote: post #163

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It was actually Dan Lyons, as quoted by Gruber: https://daringfireball.net/2008/02/devils_advocate

Thanks, attribution fixed. Now that we've got that sorted, what do you think of the analogy with respect to this deal? Does it—cough—fit?

Oops, turns out Lyons was just quoting Steve Ballmer:

http://web.archive.org/web/20080206081701/https://fakesteve....

Re: Google Buys Fitbit for $2.1B

#184

Post by tomComb »

scarface74 wrote: post #89
neuromancer2701 wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Fibit should fit perfectly into the 99$ market for a zillion people that just want to track steps and sleep cycles.

And why wouldn’t they just buy a $199 Apple Watch Series 3? How many people are both into fitness and do price conscience that they won’t spend an extra $100. Well, they could cater to the Android market.

If you have an Android, or even want the option of an Android in the future.

I wish Apple would want some of their stuff cross-platform - I don't like the all or nothing nature of the Apple ecosystem (I consider 'exclusives' to be anti-consumer in general).

Re: Google Buys Fitbit for $2.1B

#185

Post by Invictus0 »

halfmatthalfcat wrote: post #91
windexh8er wrote: post #63

Garmin and Apple have the fitness market covered. Fitbit never had the hardcore fitness market Garmin executed into and Apple has always had a product that works well across the wearable and fitness. Between these two companies I can't imagine there's much of a niche Fitbit does better. On the extreme hardcore triathlon user even Garmin has taken a lot of market from Suunto and the like. I've owned a handful of Garmi…

I have seen a lot more Fitbits then Garmins or Apple Watches. I would argue that the hardcore market, while the most loyal, isn't the largest revenue generator. It's everyone who wants something "smart" without breaking the bank (or tied to iOS).

Fitbits are a quarter of the price; same reason you see way more Androids than iPhones.

Re: Google Buys Fitbit for $2.1B

#186

Post by whoisjuan »

jpm_sd wrote: post #31

https://news.yahoo.com/google-acquiring-fitbit-130619853.htm... "Google has struggled to make much of a dent in the wearables category..." "Fitbit, meanwhile, has had issues maintaining growth in recent years." Failure + failure = success?

- * - = + ... I don't know dude. The math checks out.

Re: Google Buys Fitbit for $2.1B

#187

Post by scarface74 »

simonh wrote: post #175
vasili111 wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Looking on Pixel sometimes I think that Google is not interested to have phone that is taking the world. I think it is more interested in taking word of OS of phones and have phone that is part but not taking world. If Googles tries to take world of phones, then other companies like Samsung will start developing their phone OS which Google do not wants. So I think that the current state of the market of phones and ph…

I don't think Samsung, or anyone else trying to develop their own phone OS is any kind of threat to Google. If Microsoft can't make that work with their last phone OS, which was a genuinely interesting, innovative and high quality product, nobody can.

On the other hand their are millions of “Android” phones being sold each year in China with no Google Services. Not to mention the low end Amazon Fire tablets based on Android.

I think by working with a cell phone carrier in the US and bundling enough must have apps a manufacturer could get away with having a non Google certified Android phone. Especially if they could use Nokia’s Here for maps.

Re: Google Buys Fitbit for $2.1B

#188

Post by tomComb »

roland35 wrote: post #38

I am not sure what to think about this as a Fitbit user! I have been trying to find an easy way to get sleep and exercise data and Fitbit seemed to do the job well enough (I use my phone app during runs to get GPS data). Google's history of killing off successful but stagnant projects (RIP Reader) does worry me a lot! My prediction is that Fitbit merges with Google Fit which I used to work but I had trouble getting a…

As a Fitbit user I'm relieved. Fitbit was starting the death spiral and now they are purchased by a company with tons of money and a real interest in making Fitbit more successful.

I think this is a save for fitbit employees and users.

Re: Google Buys Fitbit for $2.1B

#189

Post by cptskippy »

Everyone here is talking about the fitness market or the lack of direction at Google. This move is about the Healthcare market.

At least where I work, researchers have been eager to partner with Fitbit and other companies to capture more reliable data in their longitudinal studies.

Fitbit devices are cheap but provide a wealth of information that's far more reliable than participant surveys. Companies are more than willing to purchase and distribute these devices for free to participants in their studies.

Re: Google Buys Fitbit for $2.1B

#190

Post by aembleton »

bransonf wrote: post #52
roland35 wrote: post #38

I am not sure what to think about this as a Fitbit user! I have been trying to find an easy way to get sleep and exercise data and Fitbit seemed to do the job well enough (I use my phone app during runs to get GPS data). Google's history of killing off successful but stagnant projects (RIP Reader) does worry me a lot! My prediction is that Fitbit merges with Google Fit which I used to work but I had trouble getting a…

If you actually are looking for another option, my bias is toward Garmin.

Or Amazfit
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