Google is buying off Fitbit

Today, Google announced that it is in plans to acquire fitness tracking watch brand Fitbit. The deal values Fitbit around $2.1 billion at a fully diluted equity value.

In a statement, Rick Osterloh, Google’s Senior Vice President, Devices & Services, said:

‘We believe technology is at its best when it can fade into the background, assisting you throughout your day whenever you need it. Wearable devices, like smartwatches and fitness trackers, do just that—you can easily see where your next meeting is with just a glance of an eye or monitor your daily activity right from your wrist.’

He shared that Google has been a leader in the wearables industry and that investment in the industry through acquisitions like Fitbit was viable.

‘Fitbit has been a true pioneer in the industry and has created engaging products, experiences and a vibrant community of users. By working closely with Fitbit’s team of experts, and bringing together the best AI, software and hardware, we can help spur innovation in wearables and build products to benefit even more people around the world.’

Regarding the sale, Fitbit CEO James Park said in a statement:

‘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.‘

What about privacy and security concerns?

Osterloh assured users that Google can be trusted with their information.

‘We understand this is a big responsibility and we work hard to protect your information, put you in control and give you transparency about your data. Similar to our other products, with wearables, we will be transparent about the data we collect and why. We will never sell personal information to anyone. Fitbit health and wellness data will not be used for Google ads. And we will give Fitbit users the choice to review, move, or delete their data.’