PRETORIA – TechCentral reported late Wednesday that Fitbit, a subsidiary of Google, is withdrawing its products from the South African market.
This decision is in alignment with Google’s broader strategy to cease selling consumer devices in specific countries, according to an unnamed company’s spokesperson.
The move was unexpected in the local industry and could have implications for the confidence consumers have in Alphabet’s products.
The decision to withdraw Fitbit and Nest products from South Africa is intended to align Google’s hardware portfolio more closely with the regional availability of its Pixel devices.
This means that Fitbit’s presence in the South African market will be discontinued.
It should be noted that Fitbit has had a significant presence in the country for many years, predating Alphabet’s acquisition of the company in November 2019.
Google sales down in SA?
While it is not yet clear what motivated this decision, Jan Vermeulen, Editor of MyBroadband.co.za, noted that local sales numbers for Fitbit are not readily available.
While it might be reasonable to assume that Fitbit’s sales in South Africa didn’t meet expectations, there is an alternative possibility.
Google might be simplifying its gadgets/devices section by unifying its products.
The absence of Google’s Pixel devices in the South African market has been a point of contention, and now the withdrawal of Fitbit and Nest products further raises questions about Alphabet’s commitment to the region.
Vermeulen expressed concerns about the impact this decision may have on local consumers’ confidence in Goo-gle’s products.
He further noted that it could make potential buyers think twice about purchasing tech and gadgets from the company.
The withdrawal of Fitbit and Nest products marks an important development in the South African tech market and raises questions about Google’s strategy and product offerings in the region.
