Two years after completing the purchase of fitbitGoogle confirmed that will stop selling all its products in Mexico and the rest of Latin American countries. The decision comes a few weeks after the technology company applied this measure in Europe and Asia in a movement that seeks to boost the Pixel brand.
The support website in Spanish mentions that they have stopped marketing Fitbit products in Mexico and Latin America. Those who purchased a smart bracelet or watch will receive technical help under the warranty. Google promised that will release software updates and security patches for these devicesalthough it will not be eternal.
“We are announcing that we will stop selling Fitbit products in select countries to align our hardware portfolio to be closer to Pixel regional availability,” a Google spokesperson told Android Authority. “We remain committed to our customers and have not made any changes that impact the existing Fitbit devices they already own,” he said.
Before the Apple Watch took the market by storm, Fitbit was the best alternative in bands to measure physical activity. The bracelets achieved such popularity that they were considered “the new iPod”, thanks to their million-dollar sales. The company led the segment for several years before Google offered $2.1 billion to acquire it.
Rick Osterloh, director of devices at Google, stated in 2019 that They aspired to create tools that would help people improve their health.. “This goal is highly aligned with Fitbit’s goal of helping people live healthier, more active lives,” she said.
Four years later, that strategy no longer works, since Fitbit bracelets steal market from the Pixel Watch.
What will happen to Fitbit after leaving Mexico
Until now, Fitbit has stopped selling its products in 29 countries, including Mexico, South Africa, Portugal, Poland, Hong Kong, South Korea and Malaysia. The company maintains its presence in Spainthe United States, Canada and other nations in Europe and Asia, reducing its operation to less than half of what it had before the Google purchase.
Fitbit owners with a warranty will continue to receive service and software updates, as mentioned on the Google website.
“We have stopped selling Fitbit products in some countries, but don’t worry. We’ll continue to help and support the devices you own, including software releases, security updates, warranty fulfillment, and access to customer service.
This affects the sites of the following countries: Mexico and the rest of the Latin American countries.”
It’s hard to know if Google will offer an alternative in all regions that are left without Fitbit. The company mentions that it seeks to align its portfolio to the regional availability of the Pixel. Nevertheless, Its product offering is limited to two watches and none of them have an affordable price. like the Inspire 3 or Luxe.