Fitbit Blaze Whatsapp

[joshstrydom]

I am on the verge of buying a Fitbit Blaze in South Africa primarily because of the price. The Apple watch is definitely better than the Blaze solely because Apple seems to be more considerate when taking their customers' thoughts and requests into consideration.

When scrolling down through the requests for different features all I saw was requests for Whatsapp for IOS. I dont understand why we as Fitbit users should have to vote because it is clearly an obvious problem.

You as a company should not label the Blaze as a smart watch as there really isnt anything smart about it. Merely notifying users that they have received an sms or a call is not smart. The first ever phone did that in 1980. However, this is not 1980 as we have obviously moved on, now move on with us!

Whatsapp is the new 'sms platform' so I really dont understand why this app wasnt incorporated in the Balze's notifications in the first place. It really does baffle my mind.

I look forward to a reply that doesnt tell me to go vote because that is unacceptable. Listen to your customers desires!

Happy customers = happy company. As a customer, I am not happy at the moment.

Moderator edit: format

[bbarrera · Accepted solution]

Another problem is that Fitbit marketing thought calls, calendar and texts were "smart notifications." Insulting. It took almost 8 months for Fitbit to announce "extended smart notifications" - so you may want to consider the Blaze although I own both and the Apple Watch is superior on so many other levels (replies to messages, payments, 3rd party apps, Bluetooth chest strap support) and will be getting a major upgrade (watchOS 3) soon.

Still mind boggling that a) Fitbit didn't launch Blaze with full smartphone notifications as both Apple and Google make it easy for Fitbit and other wearable vendors, b) back in January surprisingly took the position that "Fitbit Blaze includes the smart notifications that matter most, like call, text and calendar alerts" when for many those are the notifications that matter the least, and c) now the story is "Extended Smart Notifications help you stay connected to what matters most to you." Fitbit marketing - I guess you were joking with us before about what matters most?

Also agree with you that its baffling that we are asked to vote on obvious missing features. 

Good news is that after the CEO hinted at it back in Feb, smartphone notifications are officially coming. We don't know if they've fixed other issues, or created new issues. I sure hope emoji are now supported. At this point all we know is "Now, notifications from your smartphone can be delivered to your device with an on-screen message and a vibrating alert, including notifications from apps like Facebook, Gmail, Instagram, Skype, Slack, Snapchat, WeChat, WhatsApp and more; plus, you have the option to customize which notifications you receive." Sounds like full smartphone notifications, but then later on we read about "These forward-looking statements are only predictions and may differ materially from actual results..." 

[Gonfreaksss]

Hi Josh, 

I am sure the Fitbit team is taking careful consideration to adding more notification features for all the third party apps out there.  If you really do like what Fitbit has to offer as a tracker, then you should get it for that reason alone.  If whatsapp is more important to you, then you should go with another tracker that has whatsapp.  IMO, Fitbit goes above an beyond all other fitness trackers in what they have to offer in terms of fitness and user engagement, so at least for me, it's a no brainer that I choose Fitbit.  

[ErickFitbit]

@bbarrera @Gonfreaksss So extended notifications means you will be able to receive notifications from your call/text/calendar apps along with notifications from other apps such as: Facebook, Gmail, Instagram, Skype, Slack, Snapchat, WeChat, WhatsApp and more. Plus, you have the option to customize which notifications you receive. Hope that helps to clarify.

[bbarrera]

@ErickFitbit are you just repeating info in the press release?

If I read between the lines, it appears that Fitbit has stopped blocking other app notifications, and will now display whatever I configure in the iOS/Android notification centers.

Will emoji be supported now?

[joshstrydom]

@bbarrera Do these notifications work with IOS as well? I know that Whatsapp supposedly works with Android but I cannot stand those phones...

Thanks for your help!

Sent from my iPhone

[bbarrera · Accepted solution]

@joshstrydom yes the press release states WhatsApp is supported on iOS.

No details yet, I'm guessing/hoping that whatever is on your lockscreen will show up on Blaze. Thats the way notification center on both iOS and Android is designed to work. Fitbit has been using notification center, but blocking all other apps from getting pushed to Blaze. They finally opened up.

[joshstrydom]

@bbarrera Do you know when this update is going to be released?

[bbarrera]

@joshstrydom the Fitbit press release says "September" availability.

[gmbolger]

All I had whatsapp working on Fitbit then it stopped. Any ideas? Using iPhone 6

[GarBear89]

That would be all great if were true for all of us. 

Numbers don't lie, however.  I made some mistake where I'm getting tons of emails per day from Fitbit Ionic users.  My bad there because I'm sure there's a simple way to turn it off.  Regarding overwhelming and ENDLESS customer hardware complaints I would be happy to pass those along to your CEO and FIRSTHAND witness his/her integrity.  I would NEVER allow ONE day to go by without addressing my customers and play ignorant to the fact your very business model touts "we know you rely on FitBit every second and every minute everyday',..Yet in the short time I have owned my Ionic I have only read (by majority no less) CONSTANT complaints with hardware, software, and ignored or unanswered issues.  (no secret here) Your own customer to customer transparency seems to now be your undoing as they compare same issues and frustration. 

I suggest you address it (and us) before we end it. 

On that note could you kindly pass along a message to the kind rep I was on phone with yesterday that I never received his promised email with instructions on how to fix my issue.  I received nothing. I'd like to say I was surprised but....not even a response of "sorry Gary we here at Fitbit dont know what the heck to do on our end here but good luck if you decide not to return it. That would have at least been respectful.

Last quick question if anyone decides to respond. 

I'm no tech guy by any means but, why does one need to connect your hardware to WiFi to gain GPS access? Might want to pass that small overlooked mishap upward. (you can tell em customer insisted 😉  ) Your claiming Ionic HAS FULL GPS?  Kiddo, I've sailed around the world with FULL GPS and it worked out great.  Had Id been stuck with your FULL GPS relying on in emergency.

Heh!,..well I supposed I wouldn't have made back for you to be concerned with matter anyway.

Whew! moody moody moooot.