The very popular health and wellness brand, Fitbit, will soon have a new home. On November 1st, 2019, James Park, CEO & Co-Founder of Fitbit, announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement with Google. A press release was sent out, with a quote from Park saying, “More than 12 years ago, we set an audacious company vision – to make everyone in the world healthier. Today, I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved towards reaching that goal. We have built a trusted brand that supports more than 28 million active users around the globe who rely on our products to live a healthier, more active life. Google is an ideal partner to advance our mission. With Google’s resources and global platform, Fitbit will be able to accelerate innovation in the wearables category, scale faster, and make health even more accessible to everyone. I could not be more excited for what lies ahead.”
Fitbit pioneered the way for wearable technology by making their products affordable and innovative. Park also went on to say that nothing will really change with the acquisition. He made a point to say that the customer has always been at the center of their mission, and that will not change, and they will continue to support both iOS and Andriod devices. Park also mentioned that none of the health and wellness data will be used in Google Adwords.
Google’s Senior Vice President of Devices & Services, Rick Osterloh also said, “Fitbit has been a true pioneer in the industry and has created terrific products, experiences and a vibrant community of users. We’re looking forward to working with the incredible talent at Fitbit, and bringing together the best hardware, software and AI, to build wearables to help even more people around the world.”
The acquisition is expected to close sometime in 2020, pending the approval of Fitbit Shareholders, which is customary with these types of transactions, along with regulatory approval.