Kaitlyn Cimino / Android AuthorityTL;DR
Google has pulled Fitbit from almost 30 markets in the previous few weeks.
Notable exited areas embrace Mexico and all Latin American international locations.
The firm most just lately introduced that Fitbit was leaving South Africa.
Update, November 9, 2023 (11:08 AM ET): When we revealed this initially, we discovered 16 markets wherein Fitbit would not promote its merchandise. Shortly thereafter, 9to5Google discovered a separate help web page that talked about the corporate shifting out of even more, together with Mexico and all Latin American international locations. This means Fitbit has just lately eliminated itself from 29 international locations, which is more than half of its earlier markets. As of now, Fitbit is solely lively in 23 international locations:
The United States
Canada
Austria
Belgium
Denmark
Germany
Ireland
Spain
Finland
Greece
France
Italy
The Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
Switzerland
The United Kingdom
Australia
India
Japan
New Zealand
Singapore
Taiwan
Original article, November 9, 2023 (05:13 AM ET): Google accomplished its acquisition of Fitbit again in 2021, with the Mountain View firm claiming this deal would make well being and wellness “more accessible to more folks.” However, it seems like the corporate is taking the alternative method in over a dozen markets.Google confirmed final month that Fitbit could be leaving over a dozen markets in Asia and Europe. In Asia, these markets are Hong Kong, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand. As for Europe, Fitbit is leaving Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and Slovakia.We’re guessing that some markets within the likes of Latin America and the Middle East might be affected too.The official exits don’t cease right here as Google confirmed to TechCentral this week that Fitbit can be leaving South Africa too. Google instructed the outlet that this determination was made to “align our {hardware} portfolio to map nearer to Pixel’s regional availability.”
What’s Google’s finish objective right here?Ryan Haines / Android AuthorityGoogle has by no means provided Pixel telephones in South Africa, to start with. So the corporate is clearly making a acutely aware determination to not formally supply any Google {hardware} available in the market by pulling Fitbit from the nation.However, Fitbit merchandise have been out there within the nation for roughly a decade. In reality, Fitbit Pay was additionally half of the primary wave of NFC-based fee options available in the market, beating Apple Pay and Google Pay to the punch by a number of years. So it’s a disgrace to see these merchandise disappear from the market with Google unabashedly providing no different right here.
Have you ever purchased a Fitbit system earlier than?350 votes
We’re undecided why Google is pulling Fitbit from the aforementioned Asian and European markets, although. In saying so, these affected European markets typically don’t have a Google Store presence. So we hope Fitbit merchandise come again to those markets if/after they get Google Store help. Hopefully, this can result in Pixel Watch merchandise coming to those markets as effectively.This wouldn’t be the primary time the corporate has pulled services or products from particular international locations with out a direct different, both. Google notably pulled Nest Aware subscriptions from a number of markets, together with the UAE and Luxembourg, after bringing Nest merchandise to the Google Store.Comments
https://www.androidauthority.com/google-fitbit-exit-countries-3384006/
