Discussion

• @reneritchie Rene Ritchie on x

  Anyone know how the HTC acquisition has really worked out for Google (and HTC team)? Motorola fell apart. Nest has had ups and downs. Some say HTC has been good. Others, kinda dysfunctional.

• @ezaffar Ehsan Zaffar on x

  EPIC SUMMATION: “Now Pebble is inside Fitbit, which is inside Google hardware, which is inside Google, which is inside Alphabet. It's a nesting doll of how tech works in 2019.” ⁦@backlon⁩ https://www.theverge.com/...

• Vox Shirin Ghaffary on x

  Google says it won't use your Fitbit data to target you with ads. But what else will it do?

• @b_fung Brian Fung on x

  In the Google-Fitbit announcement, Fitbit says its health and wellness data “will not be used for Google ads.” https://investor.fitbit.com/ ...

• @google @google on x

  We've signed an agreement to acquire @Fitbit. Together, we aim to spur innovation in wearables and build helpful products to benefit more people around the world. https://blog.google/...

• @anildash @anildash on x

  If I recall correctly, Alphabet acquiring FitBit means that Google now controls hardware that's tied to some people's health insurance coverage?

• @daiwaka Daisuke Wakabayashi on x

  The hardware business is very hard. Even if you “make it” and avoid buring all your cash, the best you can hope for is to be gobbled up by a giant. Nest (Google), Ring (Amazon), Eero (Amazon), Beats (Apple) and, now, Fitbit (Google). https://www.nytimes.com/...

• @benbajarin Ben Bajarin on x

  Fitbit 2019 revenue estimates are $1.45B so Google buying for $2.1B is not even 2x revenue. When negotiating an acquisition 3x revenue is usually the baseline. This is telling about the state of Fitbit.

• @neilcybart Neil Cybart on x

  Also, the fact that this paragraph about privacy needed to be included in the Fitbit / Google press release speaks volume. Fitbit (and Google) know Fitbit users are not going to be thrilled to discover they are wearing a Google product on their bodies. pic.twitter.com/NW88wwa2p1

• @justinbrookman Justin Brookman on x

  That's exactly what WhatsApp said when they were acquired by Facebook. And we know how that turned out. https://twitter.com/...

• @cfiesler @cfiesler on x

  One of the Black Mirror episodes written by participants in my session at MozFest was about a FitBit with ads where it tried to steer the wearer towards activities that would lead to purchasing behavior. https://www.nytimes.com/...

• @wsj @wsj on x

  In announcing its $2.1B acquisition of Fitbit, Google said it wouldn't use Fitbit users' personal data to help power its massive online advertising business: “We will be transparent about the data we collect and way” https://www.wsj.com/...

• @bradwestness Brad Westness on x

  Aww nuts. I switched to a Fitbit after my Microsoft Band died and it became clear that Band was being shitcanned, but this is a bummer.

• @ricker666 Richard Devine on x

  Microsoft should have bought Fitbit when it shitcanned the Band.

• @chrissyfarr Christina Farr on x

  Fitbit has 28 million active users, but it has sold more than 100 million devices. So most people that bought one aren't using it. Can Google fix the all important engagement problem? 75% churn is high, from what I understand.

• @boddyzachary Zachary Boddy on x

  To be honest, I was hoping Microsoft and Fitbit would partner on a wearable for Microsoft, since it makes sense for them to complete that circle. That's a little unlikely now.

• @ntheotaku David F. on x

  So I guess you'll be removing Fitbit from the Microsoft Store then. Thanks for supporting my laptop, Google. pic.twitter.com/7jhicNzT9F

• @eytanseidman Eytan Seidman on x

  Google buying Fitbit feels the same as Microsoft buying Nokia.

• @tiffanycli Tiffany C. Li on x

  Oh boy. Think of how much sensitive personal data Fitbit owns - location, health, network data, all the integrations with other apps and services. Watch for antitrust action on this. https://twitter.com/...

• @lpolovets Leo Polovets on x

  What are people's theories on why Google acquired Fitbit? - brand? Google already has a decent hardware brand. - hardware expertise? Google already has that. - data? Android already provides way more data. - team? They could poach best people for way less than $2b. What's left? h…

• @raztweets Raz on x

  Great. Now Google will have access to my most embarrassing data of all - my fitness levels. https://twitter.com/...

• @ilvestoomas Toomas Hendrik Ilves on x

  Health data to be specific. And lots of it. https://twitter.com/...

• @rosterloh Rick Osterloh on x

  Looking forward to working with @parkjames & the really talented team @fitbit, excited about what we can do together! https://twitter.com/...

• @disappoptimism Disappointed Optimist on x

  “Dear medical insurance companies of America does Google have a fuckin proposition for you...” https://twitter.com/...

• @scalzi John Scalzi on x

  Cool, now my fitbit will talk to the Google Fit app. https://www.theverge.com/...

• @owensdamien Damien Owens on x

  That's Google for ya. Very little interest in the advertising game. https://twitter.com/...

• @lexnfx Alexei Oreskovic on x

  Two important details Google not commenting on wrt Fitbit acquisition: 1. Will it maintain Fitbit product line + brand (a la nest)? 2. Is Google hiring all Fitbit employees (1,625 as of June 30) with the deal?

• @backlon Dieter Bohn on x

  Fitbit is going to be part of Google's hardware division, this is about Google getting smarter at making wearable hardware — Wear OS is almost tangential to this deal from what I can tell. https://www.theverge.com/...

• @realdanstoller Dan Stoller on x

  Sen. Hawley, often a Google critic, is questioning why the company should be cleared to buy FitBit while it faces a DOJ competition probe. https://twitter.com/...

• @daniel_rubino Daniel Rubino on x

  Who would have been a good suitor for Fitbit? I'm not sure (don't say Microsoft), but I don't have faith in Google. I don't see how mixing Wear OS + Fitbit is going to move the needle for Google vs Apple. This isn't a strategy shift, it's a Hail Mary. https://www.windowscentral.c…

• @natashanyt Natasha Singer on x

  1/ Google's $2.1 billion purchase of Fitbit represents much more than a hardware play for wearables, my colleague @satariano writes. It is also a major digital health merger. https://www.nytimes.com/...

• @a_w_gordon Aaron W. Gordon on x

  $2.1 billion to get information my doctor won't even email to another doctor without me signing a release feels exceedingly cheap. https://twitter.com/...

• @neilcybart Neil Cybart on x

  Google to buy Fitbit for $2.1 billion. That's a big number for Fitbit, all things considered. https://www.businesswire.com/ ... https://twitter.com/...

• @mcfaul Michael McFaul on x

  This is an acquisition of data on consumers, not technology: https://twitter.com/...

• @edmundlee Edmund Lee on x

  reverse termination fee, Google has to pay Fitbit $250 million if it can't secure antitrust approval — at 12% of deal value that's high

• @amberkanwar Amber Kanwar on x

  Fitbit to be acquired by Google at $7.35/share -19% premium to yesterday's close -85% below all time high reach just months after launch of Apple Watch -63% lower than IPO price $FIT $GOOGL $GOOG

• @tomwarren Tom Warren on x

  Google just paid $2.1 billion to buy Fitbit. “Fitbit health and wellness data will not be used for Google ads,” apparently. https://www.theverge.com/... pic.twitter.com/oF3rlHUiTL

• @tupp_ed Simon McGarr on x

  I find I lack the emoji to convey the depth of my disbelief. https://twitter.com/...

• @jonerlichman Jon Erlichman on x

  Google's largest acquisitions: Motorola Mobility $12.5 billion Nest Labs $3.2 billion Doubleclick $3.1 billion Looker $2.6 billion Fitbit $2.1 billion YouTube $1.65 billion Waze $1.15 billion HTC Pixel unit $1.1 billion AdMob $750 million ITA $700 million DeepMind $650 million

• @tonyromm Tony Romm on x

  also, Google can enrich itself handsomely from FitBit data even if it never shows you an ad based on it. https://twitter.com/...

• @kkiyer90 Karthekayan Iyer on x

  This is great news for wearables and Fitbit. However, calling Google a competitor to Apple seems premature. Fitbit failed to capitalise on Pebble's tech and Wear OS efforts so far look underwhelming. https://twitter.com/...

• @geoffreyfowler Geoffrey A. Fowler on x

  Google is promising “Fitbit health and wellness data will not be used for Google ads.” https://wapo.st/2r3NhUg I also remember when Google acquired Nest and @tfadell said home data would “not go into the greater Google or any of its other business units.”

• @tonyromm Tony Romm on x

  Everyone: Wow Google buying FitBit: Me: 230923423 words on antitrust scrutiny, a major test for the feds and data as a competition issue https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

• @counternotions Kontra on x

  ElOhEl, that's what Nest promised too, and now they've been fully absorbed by Google. https://twitter.com/...

• @krazyfrog Cynical Guruji on x

  Fitbit, after one year: Mr. Stark I don't feel so good https://twitter.com/...

• @alfredwkng Alfred on x

  we know where people live, what their interests are and who they talk.... but how do we track their heartbeats and how often they sleep ???? https://twitter.com/...

• @_am1t Amit Gawande on x

  With Fitbit, Google can possibly gain a lot more insight into the health data about users. Many trust Fitbit with this data — it has to be extremely valuable to Google. Of course, the acquisition can also affect that trust, if no lessons are learnt from Nest. https://twitter.com/…

• @lutherlowe Luther Lowe on x

  Google's brazen attempt to acquire FitBit while so much antitrust scrutiny against the company swirls globally is shocking but not surprising. A quick glance at FitBit's privacy policy reveals some of the data Google gets from FitBit users if the deal is approved: pic.twitter.com…

• @marshallk Marshall Kirkpatrick on x

  Google to acquire Fitbit for $2B. Quantified movement of physical self is no longer the leading edge of wellness intervention, intergenerational context is. Like California's Surgeon General advocating screening for childhood trauma by ACES score. https://www.techmeme.com/...

• @eringriffith Erin Griffith on x

  Bold move in the face of antitrust concerns: Google to Buy Fitbit for $2.1 Billion via @NYTimes https://www.nytimes.com/...

• @neilcybart Neil Cybart on x

  It's very impressive that Fitbit managed to get $7.35 per share from Google. Fitbit shares last traded at that level back in January 2017. Google could have easily stuck it to Fitbit at this point but they didn't likely to make Fitbit employees happy and stay on board.

• @stevekovach Steve Kovach on x

  Fitbit resumed trading. Up 16% now https://www.cnbc.com/...

• @markdeloura Mark DeLoura on x

  Am starting to believe there might be a real market for devices that strictly report data back to a home brain and nowhere else. Congratulations to Fitbit! But I can't help wonder what new ads will come from my 9 years of weight and activity data. 😬 https://twitter.com/...

• @lamonicabuzz Paul R. La Monica on x

  And there it is. Fitbit getting bought by Google/Alphabet for $2.1 billion. $7.35 a share. Nearly 20% premium to yesterday's closing price. $FIT $GOOGL https://investor.fitbit.com/ ...

• @zerohedge @zerohedge on x

  Fitbit To Be Acquired By Google For $7.35/Share, 63% Discount From IPO Price https://www.zerohedge.com/...

• @mathowie Matt Haughey on x

  Google can have 20 years of your search history, a microphone and video camera in your house, 24/7 GPS location from your android phone, know when you're home and when you sleep thanks to Nest, and now, they'll know when and how you move around. https://twitter.com/...

• @stevekovach Steve Kovach on x

  Fitbit is selling for $7.35/share. Its all-time high was $51.90/share. https://www.cnbc.com/...

• @_am1t Amit Gawande on x

  Fitbit acquisition doesn't seem to be an attempt it replace or bolster the WearOS platform. It may purely be a play to have a presence in fitness tracking space - which Apple, slowly but surely, has owned with Apple Watch. It is no longer just about smartwatch. https://twitter.co…

• @thehfone @thehfone on x

  “In a way, Google acquiring Fitbit is sort of perfect...Much like Wear OS itself, Google is investing in a loser” Ouch 🤭 https://www.androidpolice.com/ ...

• @brianfagioli Brian Fagioli on x

  @Techmeme @RDRv3 I agree that Apple Watch is probably the best wearable, but it doesn't work with Android. So I don't know why pundits and analysts think it's too late for Google to catch up. The large majority of smartphone users simply can't use Apple Watch.

• @rdrv3 David Ruddock on x

  Longform thoughts on today's Fitbit acquisition. I'm not pulling any punches here. https://www.androidpolice.com/ ...

• @amir Amir Efrati on x

  New: Facebook looked to buy Fitbit for $1B before Google swooped in. http://thein.fo/... scoop via @alexeheath

• @mikeisaac Rat King on x

  still not quite sure what Oculus lab is up to over there but i guess everyone wants into wearables now https://www.theinformation.com/ ...

• @nickwingfield Nick Wingfield on x

  facebook wanted fitbit too, tho not nearly as badly as google, @alexeheath reports http://thein.fo/...

• @alexeheath Alex Heath on x

  Scoop: Facebook also held talks to acquire Fitbit, but ultimately was only willing to pay roughly half of the $2.1 billion price Google said today it will pay for the business http://thein.fo/...

• @charlesarthur Charles Arthur on x

  Google buying Fitbit for $2.1bn, which is only a slight premium over today's market cap of $1.8bn - though share price has shot up as rumours of acquisition spread. More consolidation, happening faster. Not sure it will make a true Apple Watch rival tho. https://blog.google/... h…