Fitbit has announced that, from next year, the use of its bracelets can be done via a Google account. This should be mandatory after 2025.
As Fitbit prepares to launch its new connected watches and bracelets, the Fitbit Sense 2, Versa 4 and Inspire 3, the American manufacturer, acquired in January 2021 by Google, is preparing to modify its account management policy.
As reported by the site 9to5Google, Fitbit has indeed announced that the brand will be fully integrated into Google in the years to come. Fitbit has posted a page dedicated to the merger of the teams, the new brand “ Fitbit by Google “, but also the accounts of its users:
We plan to enable use of Fitbit with a Google Account sometime in 2023. Google Accounts on Fitbit provide several benefits for Fitbit users, such as easy sign-in to Fitbit and other Google services […]. Google will not use Fitbit health and wellness data for Google Ads. After the launch of Google Accounts on Fitbit, if you want to integrate your Fitbit Account with your Google Account, you will need to consent to transfer your user data from Fitbit to Google. Once done, you can sign in to Fitbit with your Google account, without going through your Fitbit account.
A mandatory Google account after 2025
Above all, Fitbit indicates that from the merger of Google and Fitbit accounts, planned for some time next year, certain features will only be available to users through their Google account. In a second step, after 2025, the use of a Google account will then become mandatory to connect to Fitbit services. “Once support for Fitbit accounts ends, a Google account will be required to use Fitbit”thus indicates the page of the American manufacturer.
The integration of Fitbit services with Google services is reminiscent of what may have happened to users of Nest thermostats or smoke detectors after the takeover by the Mountain View group. In addition, users of Oculus virtual reality headsets had also had to use a Facebook account to use their Meta Quest 2 headset in August 2020. Finally, Mark Zuckerberg backtracked last July by indicating that it will finally be possible to use a simple Meta account.
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