Rebecca Paredes December 1st, 2016
Fitbit is on the verge of acquiring indie smartwatch company Pebble, according to reports. Both companies are struggling to stay afloat in troubled waters — Fitbit shares recently plummeted after subpar Q3 earnings, and Pebble laid off 25% of its staff back in March.
TechCrunch reports that Fitbit is paying between $34 and $40 million for Pebble. This news may be great for Fitbit users: Pebble’s operating system offers a greater range of customization through a range of user-created apps, which could open the door for more smartwatch features on future Fitbits.
Related: Read our full review of the Pebble 2
But the Pebble community isn’t happy. The same qualities that built Pebble’s user base — a developer-friendly operating system, a range of apps, and quirky watchfaces — are in a gray area with reports of the acquisition.
We’ve reached out to Fitbit and Pebble for comment. A representative from Pebble told WearableZone, "We don't comment on rumors or speculation." We’ll update this story as news develops.
In the meantime, here’s what Pebble users have to say.
What do you think about the acquisition? Let us know in the comments.
Tell Us What You Think