From the Editor’s Desk: Would Google regret it if it decided to leave its Fitbit iOS fans behind?

Ultimate week I got here throughout an intriguing article by means of Michael Simon over at MacWorld which speculated that Fitbit may well be alienating and even leaving behind its base of iOS consumers with the liberate of the subsequent top rate smartwatch.

It will appear ordinary that I, as an Android consumer, would care all that a lot a lot about this risk. Alternatively, as any person who has many family and friends that use Fitbits with their iPhones, the concept that they may not be ready to achieve this in the long run did pique my passion. Simply inside my very own circle, I will simply envision a variety of unsatisfied Fitbit fans if Google had been to make a decision to forget about iOS for its smartwatches and trackers in the long run.

To be transparent, the concept that Google and Fitbit would abandon their iOS customers is theory at this level.

Now I need to be transparent that, as of but, there’s no proof that Google/Fitbit plans to abandon their iOS consumer base. It is natural conjecture at this level, although it is in accordance with a couple of information that we have already got relating to Put on OS 3. Reality no 1 is that Fitbit CEO James Park showed again at Google I/O 2021 that the subsequent top rate Fitbit smartwatch would run Put on OS. Reality quantity 2 is that the most effective smartwatches recently working Put on OS 3 — the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 4 Vintage — don’t seem to be appropriate with iPhones.

From those information, it’s simple to speculate that long run Put on OS gadgets additionally would possibly not paintings on iOS. And from there, it’s a logical bounce to think that Fitbit trackers will not be appropriate with iPhones shifting ahead both. If both or either one of those assumptions end up to be true, what does that imply for the long run good fortune of Google/Fitbit’s wearables?

Focusing Fitbit on Android

Many appear to assume that no longer most effective will Google abandon iOS as a Fitbit platform, however that it will have to achieve this for the excellent of the Put on OS and Android ecosystems. In spite of everything, the Apple Watch isn’t appropriate with anything else however an iPhone, so why will have to Google/Fitbit thru excellent cash after dangerous in a battle that they most likely cannot win on iOS?

Those advocates argue that Google will have to benefit from the momentum that it’s construction with Put on OS 3, the Pixel 6 and six Professional, and its new in-house silicon chops and make plans to sever ties with iOS customers shifting ahead. Gene Munster, managing spouse at Loup Ventures, is considered one of the professionals espousing this standpoint, calling the determination for Google/Fitbit to center of attention on its personal Android consumer base a “sensible trade-off.”

It is the proper name for Google/Fitbit to leave iOS consumers. The truth is that the effort to take care of the ones consumers is prime, and the probability of profitable a subject material collection of new consumers in the subsequent 5 years is low.

Jitesh Ubrani, analysis supervisor at IDC, has the same opinion.

“Apple has carried out a particularly excellent process at ensuring the Apple Watch is basically the most effective selection for iPhone customers, so I doubt their customers would even realize that Put on OS 3 watches don’t seem to be appropriate.”

Additionally running in Google and Fitbit’s desire is the proven fact that the Android smartwatch house hasn’t stuck hearth to date.

“Unfortunately, Android nonetheless lacks a hero smartwatch that may be really useful as the default or the ‘go-to’ product for somebody in quest of a smartwatch. As such, many customers are both unsatisfied with their present smartwatches or just do not personal one, and this is able to simply be a gold mine for Google/Fitbit,” Ubrani says.

Ignoring iOS at its personal peril

In fact, this argument additionally assumes that Google will stay making Fitbit watches and trackers in the long run, slightly than incorporating Fitbit’s device suite totally into Put on OS. And but, our personal interior polling displays that over part those that spoke back need Google to stay Fitbit as an “unbiased” {hardware} logo.

Turning your again on a devoted buyer base turns out like an unwise determination.

Now, it turns out that to achieve this, Google would want to take care of no less than some compatibility between Fitbit gadgets and iOS. In particular with the enlargement of Chinese language producers like Xiaomi in the tracker house.

A lot of Fitbit’s present consumer base is made up of iPhone customers, and no less than a 3rd of energetic Fitbit gadgets are trackers like the Fee line. So if Fitbit continues to make health trackers as well as to smartwatches for Put on OS, I trust Simon that it could be an enormous ignored alternative for it no longer to proceed supporting iOS customers.

Doing so is “going to harm Fitbit far more than Apple,” says Simon. Even Ubrani, who was once reasonably bullish on the concept of Google leaving behind iOS, agreed that “in most cases it’s no longer a good suggestion to abandon a buyer base,” and Fitbit’s iOS base isn’t insignificant.

Until long run iterations of Fitbit trackers run Put on OS, I do not see the trackers except for iOS customers. The prevailing device and products and services already run on iOS, so it does not require a lot effort on Google to stay issues going. Additionally, those trackers draw in an target market that Apple does not cater to, so Google may lose face by means of except for them. — Jitesh Ubrani

Many iPhone customers love their elementary Fitbit trackers for every type of causes. As Simon discussed in his MacWorld piece, “whether or not it’s the dimension, form, worth, or battery lifestyles, Fitbit’s circle of relatives of gadgets have sudden enchantment amongst Apple fans.” That is not to point out all of the iPhone households that give their youngsters Fitbit trackers to inspire task and motion, take part in pleasant circle of relatives demanding situations, and since they only agree with Fitbit greater than different firms.

Moreover, many iPhone customers merely don’t need to or cannot find the money for the improve to an Apple Watch. Anecdotally, family and friends I have spoken with who pair Fitbit trackers with iPhones achieve this as a result of they like simplicity and don’t need an advanced instrument on their wrist.

Why will have to Google/Fitbit surrender this wholesome and constant marketplace phase?

Transferring ahead bit by means of Fitbit

Given Fitbit’s most up-to-date product releases and the way the corporate gushed over the good fortune of the Fee line, and the way excited they had been by means of the Luxe, I’m positive that almost all of its gadgets will paintings with iOS for the foreseeable long run. As a Fitbit tracker fan, I’m hoping I am proper.

However what do you assume? Do you assume it could be smart for Google and Fitbit to close out iOS customers in the long run? Why or why no longer? Let me know in the feedback segment.

Have an unbelievable Hard work Day weekend!