Apple May Remove Fitbit Products From Its Stores

Now that Apple has formally entered the wearable device race with the Apple Watch we can expect it to go tough on rivals in this market. Could that be the reason why Apple may stop selling Fitbit products through its stores? At least that’s what a report published today claims without explaining why Apple will take this step, because technically Fitbit makes activity trackers that aren’t smartwatches per se.

Citing sources, Re/code reports today that Apple will soon be removing Fitbit products from its stores apparently to make way for its own wearable device, the aforementioned Apple Watch, which isn’t due to hit the market until early 2015.

Is it possible that this move might be related to Fitbit’s hesitation in integrating with HealthKit, Apple’s new software platform for health and fitness data on iOS 8? Fitbit did say that it was “evaluating” whether or not it should integrate with HealthKit, but removal of its products would seem a harsh response from Apple’s end.

Another thing to keep in mind here that while this report only points out Fitbit products, Apple sells wearable devices from other companies as well, such as the Nike+ FuelBand. It is unclear right now if those products will get the axe as well.

We’ll have to wait and see how this turns out. When reached by the scribe Apple declined to comment on its report.

Adnan Farooqui
Categories: Apple, Gadgets
Tags: Apple Watch, fitbit, Wearable Tech