Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc., is attempting to make a push into the fitness tracking industry. According to Reuters, Alphabet has placed a bid to acquire San Francisco-based wearables device developer Fitbit.
Fitbit devices are typically worn as wristbands that can measure health metrics such as a person’s heart rate, number of steps, calorie intake, or quality of sleep. The company launched its first smartwatch in 2017, which could appeal to Google as a means to compete with other smartphone manufacturers such as Apple or Samsung. Unlike Google, both Apple and Samsung have already entered the fitness market through wearable devices such as the Apple Watch and Samsung Gear.
Reuters reports that “there is no certainty” the current negotiations between Fitbit and Google lead to a deal, and the amount Google has offered to purchase Fitbit is not clear.
Fitbit shares climbed roughly 30% in the wake of the reported bid. In 2018, Fitbit partnered with Google to connect to Cloud Healthcare API, a cloud-based healthcare data system built by Google.
