Allow siblings as contacts on the Fitbit Ace LTE

[Supatyke]

While setting up Fitbit Ace LTE watches for our two kids I added my wife and I as contacts. I also wanted to have the kids be able to contact each other but couldn't send an invite to their Gmail address. I assume this is because they are supervised accounts?

Moderator Edit: Updated label

[Maggiejean87]

Another parent chiming in to say this absolutely must be fixed. We are switching from Gabb watches which were terribly glitchy, and this seemed great til I realized I can’t add their grandma (who doesn’t have a gmail) or their older sibling (who has a supervised gmail). We also have two kids with the ace. Why wouldn’t they be allowed to communicate with each other?!

[shaklee3]

The landing page for the product still says this:

"Add up to 20 people in your trusted circle who can call and message using the Fitbit Ace app."

This seems like false advertising by FitBit, and instead it should be changed to "Add up to 20 adults with gmail accounts". 

[Hcistu]

Checking in if any movement or timing update on this? 

[Dilagable]

Also following up on this. Any updates on all of the parents' concerns??

[Lmzelle]

Siblings is top priority, but any cousin or friend with a supervised google account would be a great benefit as well. My 11 year old keeps asking for a phone, and I thought this would be a better, safer alternative but still allow her to talk to a handful of friends. Unfortunately it can't do that 😞

But not even being able to talk to her sister when they're just running around the neighborhood is really disappointing.

[Tnpadgett]

@LizzyFitbit Any updates on the possibility of adding this feature? With school starting soon it would be extremely helpful to add siblings. 

[Gene82]

I'm in desperate need of a response from Google. Will this happen or not? My return window is closing fast. 

[Kodros]

I could have swore that I read somewhere else that they are working on this.

[danielapina]

Yeah, they said they are working on this and that a group of testers will
be testing a couple months ago. I'd love my kids to be on the test group.
These are our 9th and 10th fitbit devices and I've never been this
dissapointed before.

[Gene82]

Can Google confirm your comments or send me a link where they are stating this? I'm torn between this or the Verizon Gizmo 3 Adventure watch for the kids. 

[Kodros]

https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Fitbit-Ace-LTE/Can-we-get-an-official-answer-on-texting-to-siblings-...

One of the good things about this watch is that there is a "voice to text" feature.  Some other phones, including that Verizon one, doesn't have that.  So kids will most likely just send you audio recordings of them talking instead of texting.

[Swoll78]

Thank you for the link! Here's hoping it happens quickly!

[Smittypdx]

Highly agree, would love to have this tied to members of Google family as this already appears to be integrated with that service.

[nyeddula]

i completely support. adding siblings to each other would be great

[Xiteg79]

I would love to see this change as well! Two kids in two schools and they should be able to contact each other.

[terradyn]

Yes. Please add this feature. 

[rmantinan]

Must have feature. I would expect this to be added sooner than later. If not, will be exploring other options.

[SanKim]

@Fitbit product team, pls accept that you guys are missing out such a simple no brainer feature and work toward correcting this. Instead you guys are putting us through voting and justifying it. Who in the world with the right mind set would not want the watch to communicate with sibling watch and another minor sibling under parent supervised mode?

Again, please own the mistake and take responsibility to fix this gap rather than putting the burden and inconvenience on the customers.

[ple33]

WTF how is this not supported already!?!?!  

[Hcistu]

Agreed. Too little too late for what should have been available on release.
My son has given up on his Ace.

[dakdaemon]

I will add my voice to this chain, we have just bought this watch for our youngest and not being able to contact her older siblings is a basic feature that should have been there from the start, and certainly having to buy a ace pass before you discover this is not great at all.

There is a reason we are all setup as a family on google such that this can be simple, this is very basic functionality.

[sgsx3]

Hello moderators - any update on this? This device has been out for 3 months now and I've heard nothing about the development of this feature that many parents are asking for. It would be really beneficial for me to be able to add my child's supervised account as a contact for my other child's Fitbit Ace.

[CrossEye]

Please allow parents to be in control of their children's experience and if Supervised Accounts should be able to communicate with each other / our children.

I personally like the idea that my kids can message each other outside of school hours.

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi everyone, and thanks for sharing this product feedback. We’re very happy to let you know that this has been released on the Fitbit Ace LTE. You can find more details in the following articles:

• Add Friends on Fitbit Ace LTE
• Add and manage contacts on Fitbit Ace LTE 

@Supatyke, in recognition of your excellent product feedback, each of your votes will now count as 5 votes – you have the power! Thank you for sharing this idea, and thanks to everyone who voted and commented for your enthusiasm which has now materialized for everyone’s benefit. We hope you all enjoy this new addition to the Fitbit product or service!

[shaklee3]

@LizzyFitbit can you comment on when kids with the watch will be able to send messages to their friends with the app? This was a capability originally mentioned on the website, but has since been removed.