So this is how Google will earn your Fitbit data

I have been a dedicated Fitbit fan for almost five years now. Ever since the company bought my beloved Pebble, I’ve been using some of the best Fitbit portable materials to track my exercise, steps and sleep. One of the things I appreciate most about the Fitbit experience is the ability to jump back in time to see how my activity, weight or stats have changed over time, but as a recent email I received from the company received, an indication is, that the freedom ability to look at my own historical fitness data may disappear.

According to a recent customer survey sent by Fitbit via email, it looks like Google has been able to find a way to monetize users’ Fitbit data, complying with its commitment to regulators not to disclose data for advertising purposes do not use. So how do they plan to do that? Our favorite’s’ word – subscriptions!

I personally am still very excited about the prospect of new Fitbit hardware led by Google, and can not wait to see what the first Google / Fitbit smartwatch will look like. Over the past few weeks and months, we’ve started to see how useful features like Google Assistant come with the Versa 3 and Sense watches, and you can even see your Fitbit sleep data on Google Assistant smart screens. The company is also now offering its Fitbit products in the Google Store.

According to Google’s hardware chief Rick Osterloh, one of the tent pole promises Google made to regulators when they agreed to acquire Fitbit, said the deal was about ‘devices, not data’ and that consumers’ health and wellness data not ‘used for Google ads. “I hope Google keeps these promises, but the simple fact is that Google, no matter how much effort it puts into the hardware space, is a software company in the first place. Actually, scratch it, Google is a data company. If you take this into account, you did not really expect Google not to explore ways to earn his new treasure trove of health and wellness data, have you?

According to the previous survey, it appears that Google is testing the subscriber water and examining additional levels and options for the Fitbit Premium service. Fitbit Premium currently provides in-depth health statistics and analysis to subscribers, as well as clues on how to interpret and respond to that data. There are also guided meditation, wellness and fitness programs and the option to pay a little more for personalized workouts.

Fitbit Premium is facing stiff competition from Apple and Peleton, so it’s logical that Google wants to get more out of it.

If one of the new levels is implemented, Fitbit customers can be offered cheaper and more premium versions of Fitbit Premium, with more or less options available for the price differences. That’s all well and good, but what I’m worried about is the cheapest option the survey asked for. This would give users access to their historical fitness data, something we already have for free and have been coming out since the first Fitbit trackers.

To be clear, there would still be a ‘free’ level that would offer limited historical insights (perhaps for a month or longer). However, unless you paid at least for the basic level, you would no longer be able to see how much you slept that week in April 2018, or see your career of the holiday two years ago.

On one level, I fully understand what Google / Fitbit is trying to do with this survey. They want to determine how valuable these services are to their fans – which makes sense. Many sustainable programs and services have switched to some form of subscriber model, and for all that Fitbit has to offer, I’m sure many people will see the value in paying for those services. However, it would really sucks if Google puts that life data behind a pay wall, especially for those of us who have many years of data to show us loyalty.

Google / Fitbit is in danger of losing longtime loyalists, like me.

If this entry level of Fitbit Premium does happen, I hope Google will use older users, or provide a long introductory offer like Fitbit for those who buy an Inspire 2, Versa 3 or Sense. Otherwise, I suspect it will lose a lot of its loyal fanbase, myself probably included. After all, there are a bunch of amazing smartwatches and fitness trackers to choose from!

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