Shulou(Shulou.com)11/24 Report--

CTOnews.com October 24 news, recently, research firm Canalys released a report that Pixel Watch came out, Google smart watch strategy has become chaotic.

Google officially launched its long-awaited Pixel Watch on October 6, 2022, marking a new milestone as Google's first ever Pixel smartwatch. CTOnews.com has learned that the Pixel Watch has a unique appearance, with a beautiful round dial and a unique strap connection shaft. However, in this era of smart watches with narrow bezels and large displays, the device looks a bit outdated with a smaller display and large bezel design.

The following are the details of the report:

The launch of the Pixel Watch is a big boon for Google's ecosystem, and this flagship smartwatch completes the Pixel portfolio. The watch comes with the latest Wear OS 3.5, powered by Google services and third-party apps, extending the Android user experience to the wrist. Google stressed that Fitbit integration is a key selling point for the product. Combine Fitbit's powerful health, exercise and sleep monitoring capabilities and services with Google Intelligence to make it even more appealing to mass market users.

While the Pixel Watch's primary target group is Pixel and Android smartphone users, it is currently positioned as the highest-end product in Google's smartwatch portfolio. This is evident in the pricing strategy adopted by the Pixel Watch-it is priced higher than other Fitbit smartwatches. The Pixel Watch is also available in Fitbit's official store.

Fitbit's new watch launches highlight problems with Google's watch strategy Fitbit's participation brings advantages to Google, but also brings many challenges. Fitbit's two new smartwatches, Sense 2 and Versa 4, launched on September 29, 2022, with upgrades focused on their user interface, sensor enhancements, and health monitoring optimization. The Fitbit operating system used in Sense 2 and Versa 4 has also made significant changes, highlighting a shift in Google's smartwatch strategy that differentiates Fitbit-branded smartwatches from Google smartwatches.

First, Fitbit's two new smartwatches no longer support the Fitbit OS app library, which means third-party app support is no longer available on Sense and Versa 3's successors. Although Alexa features are still integrated into the latest watches, both products no longer carry Google Assistant features. Google promised to add Google Maps and Google Wallet features in future updates, but several smart features removed from Fitbit OS indicate that Google intends to position Fitbit OS as a new lightweight product. This move is the same as Huawei did a few years ago when it launched the Watch GT series of base watches. At the time, the Watch GT series was targeted at users who wanted a simpler watch with excellent health and motion tracking and longer battery life.

The key user base for iOS may be the main reason Google is forced to continue developing Wear OS and Fitbit OS together, so as not to lose support from iOS users. Fitbit's new operating system introduces a "downgrade" that gives users an inconsistent user experience and undermines the appeal of Sense 2 and Versa 4 as optional upgrades for existing Fitbit users. For Fitbit Sense and Versa loyal iPhone users, if they want to get a better user experience, they will find that they cannot get a clear upgrade path. Worse, they may feel discriminated against because they don't get any value-added intelligence from the product ecosystem integration compared to Apple Watch users. This provides Apple with a great opportunity to poach Fitbit users with its well-integrated watchOS features.

The success of Google and Fitbit smartwatches depends on Fitbit co-founder James Park, who is now vice president and general manager of Google's wearable devices group. He needs to sort out the current chaotic product mix and develop a clear growth strategy for Google's future smartwatch. The launch of the Pixel Watch is only the first step in a long march, and Google still needs to make significant commitments in several areas, including rapid market expansion, platform feature development, and health and motion detection technology development. The Pixel Watch's main feature is the integration of Fitbit functionality, but the next generation of Pixel Watch still needs new highlights, including new use cases that leverage wireless connectivity and converged ecosystems.

Moreover, Google must avoid repeating its failure to integrate acquired assets into its core team and improve its performance in maintaining and developing software platforms and services at a later stage. Google must maintain Fitbit users 'privacy and health data, while allowing Fitbit to integrate more fully, allowing Fitbit to play to its strengths without being hidden. Further integration of platforms and software services is expected in the future (e.g. Fitbit's platform with Google Fit), which will continue to pose challenges.

For Google, it would be wise to allow Fitbit more freedom to explore more possibilities for sports health products and services, while taking full advantage of Google's AI software and machine learning capabilities. Google must also remind itself that it still has a lot of interest in developing Wear OS for other Android partners, and that increasing Wear OS's market share to 25% or even 30% next year would be a worthwhile goal. According to Canalys statistics, Wear OS accounted for 20% of the smartwatch market in the second quarter of 2022, and Wear OS platform shipments are still dominated by Samsung.

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