Last year Nokia acquired Withings but fast forward a year later, it seems that Nokia might have second guessed that acquisition as the company announced that they were considering selling off its health division (Withings included). A leaked memo also revealed that the company did not see a path for its digital health business.
However according to the latest rumors shared by French publication Les Echos (via Wareable; via 9to5Google), it seems that Google could be looking to pick it up. However the report claims that Google isn’t alone in their interest because at least three other companies have also expressed their interest in acquiring Nokia’s health division.
One company is not from Europe while the other two are from France, and we mention this because apparently the nationalities of these bidders are playing a role with the French government involved in the outcome. The report from Les Echos also reveals that whoever acquires the company will be paying much less for it than what Nokia had initially paid for Withings.
Google’s interest in Nokia’s health division isn’t exactly surprising. Withings did have several smart health devices in its portfolio, like a hybrid wearable, a sleep sensor, smart weighing scale, and so on, which we imagine Google wouldn’t mind adding to their lineup. Google has yet to comment on the report so it’s probably best to take it with a grain of salt for now.
Filed in . Read more about Google, Health, Nokia and Withings.