Integrate with iOS Health

[so-rich]

Hi there,

I'm really excited about Apple's announcement of the Health App in iOS 8 to be release this fall.  I'm looking forward to seeing a product announcement by Fitbit for a successor to the recalled Fitbit Force, and I'm really hoping to hear some exciting news about Fitbits intigration with Apple's new Health App to be released alongside iOS 8 this fall.  

This is a huge oportunity to make your devices even smarter and more integrated - Please support these APIs!  Thanks!

Moderator edit: updated subject for clarity and labels.

[Bluejay]

@zapleahy ,

Saddly, these conversations should have begun back when Apple announced Health and opened it up to developers. Not after they have rolled it out.

We saw a fitbit in Apples introduction of Health. We assumed the cutting edge company we had trusted our data to would be at the forefront, as they often been. We didn't start this conversation back then, because we assumed you would intergrate.

Not only did you not intergrate, but you didn't even make an announcement about not planning to do it until we begged.

Fitbit needs to be more open and honest with their customers. You talk about great new products your working on, but there are no details. It is getting hard to trust fitbit. Hearing you have great new products coming, is sort of like listening to the child that habitually tells a parent that they have done their home work, when they really have not.

We are not going to stop considering other products until we see a change in the bahavior of Fitbit.

We need open and honest communication, not vague meaningless promises.

[lovetodig]

I have been a faithful Fitbit user for 3 years. First the Ultra and now the One. I have rarely had a daylight hour that the Fitbit was not a part of me. I love my Fitbit, I love your customer service. However, I must say that I am very disappointed to find that Fitbit is not working with the Apple Health App. I have my steps going into My Fitness Pal, but they don't transfer over. I would like to see my steps and stairs transfer from my Fitbit to the Apple Health App. I am afraid that as much as I love my Fitbit, if a decision isn't made soon to work with the Health App, I may find myself looking at some of the other options out there that will work with it. You have a great product and if it did work with the Health App, you would get a lot more exposure which I believe will lead to a lot of future business. Apple sold over 10 million iPhones during the first weekend release. Many of those buyers would have been potential customers for a Fitbit. I want to have all of my health information in one place and the Health App fits that bill. I hope to see Fitbit become a part of it very, very, very soon. Each day that passes, you are losing customers to a competitor and may never have the chance to get them away from the brand that they start out with.

[zapleahy]

@Alacaeriel @mstfrzv @TiggsPanther @SunsetRunner @SunsetRunner Appreciate the personal anecdotes and direct feedback on how an integration with HealthKit would better meet your needs. Thanks for taking the time to share these thoughts.

@Markmcd @team_vandelay @kozlow @yanhay @lovetodig Thanks for stopping by to vote for this feature.

@Bluejay As always, thanks for the candid commentary. I will continue to do my best to champion the type of open communications you and others here need to make the best, most informed decisions you can.

[Bluejay]

Let me give you something to think about.

I have brand new iPhone 6. I like having water and shock proof casees. On my last phone I had a LifeProof case. I've been checking their website for any hint of when their case for the iPhone 6 will come out. Nothing yet. No communication.

Then I found Lunatik. They have an early backer program for their iPhone 6 cases. They have a ship date. I looked at reviews of their iPhone 5/5s cases. I preordered. Just like I preordered my first fitbit in Febuary of 2010.

Look to what made you a success in the past. Look what makes other companies successful.

Staying queit on new developments like Health Kit, then kicking your customers legs out after Apple rolls it out is not a recipe for success.

[nick149]

I would like to have the option for intergation of healthkit. Other apps give you the option to share and what to share. 

[BrianLink]

What I like about iOS 8 integration is that, it helps me consolidate all my health activity in one place. FitBit is a big part of that activity, tracking steps mostly but also my weight and other exercise. I'm sure people use even more features of FitBit than I do like tracking food and water. The reality today is that everyone uses MANY apps. I'm sure there are loyal FitBit users that also use half a dozen other apps. And I bet that's pretty normal. RunKeeper, Nike, MyFitnessPal, etc. FitBit would be smart to play nice with this consolidation effort in iOS.

Otherwise, I fear the longterm consequence is that people will gravitate to the other apps that DO integrate and ignore those that don't. This week Apple created a "Health Apps" section and I bet millions of eyeballs are there looking at how Apple can help them focus on their heath. And FitBit ISN'T THERE. 

I'm a huge fan so I hope you build this quick. Even if it's only to integrate steps and weight. Then evaluate whether people use the feature before you do deeper integration.

While I'm not an expert in mobile apps, I have been the CTO of multiple startups and worked with some really smart people - if you're looking for a test group to get more detailed feedback, please let me know and I'm happy to contribute or even help poll my friends.

[SunsetRunner]

@zapleahy , Thank You for responding... 

You Have my utmost condolences for having been assigned this horse to ride but honestly have you actually had a communication from a member of Fitbit management with authority to speak for the company on this matter? Is there any actual word other than we are thinking about integrating? Or were you just told to get in here and "take one" for the team?

I am not trying to be unkind or cruel but do you actually have a reasonable expectation that you will receive an answer from management in the near future?

[coreymcl]

@zapleahy Just like with our adoption of Fitbit products, the integration with Apple's new HealthKit is about unlocking the possibilities to understanding and improving our overall health. Fitbit doesn't have the resources nor the desire to integrate with all the new products and solutions coming to the market. This is understandable and in fact most of us agree, Fitbit needs to stay focused on what your core business. But this does limit your users ability to take advantage of new and exciting integration.  

As an example, many Healthcare systems including my GI Doctor are working to include integration with HealthKit. For me this integration would allow for me to share my weight, meals including a breakdown of nutrients, as well as my overall level of exercise with my doctor as I see fit to share such information. 

This is just the beginning, and where Fitbit is being short slighted. The possibilities for this types of integrations are just now started to be dreamed up. In the near future there will be a wave of new products and solutions designed to help us all improve our health and Fitbit should want to be apart of this very bright future. History has shown over the last 10 years, consumer focused companies who try to lock in their customers instead of adopting to the changing to market and customer requirements fail. Besides this is “MY" health data not Fitbit’s and I should be allowed to take it where I want to, not where Fitbit decides it’s OK for me to take it. 

PS I'm on my second Fitbit (Flex) and when this one goes out I can tell you I will consider if the new tracker is open allowing me to choose or are they locking me into their eco-system. The same statement is true for my Aria scale and when it goes out. This is Fitbit's opportunity to build good will and trust with your companies. 

#freemyhealthdata

[Amandawalrus]

I'm so disappointed that FitBit doesn't talk to HealthKit.  I hate the FitBit app, and I wish I could get my step data into more effective apps.  I'll stick with my FitBit one until it dies, I guess, but I probably wouldn't replace it with another FitBit unless your company starts integrating with other apps.  Also, I gave you a one star review in the AppStore over lack of HealthKit integration.

[KevinQ]

"What do you imagine a HealthKit integration would entail and what do you expect to get out of it?"

It should entail sharing the Fitbit step data and Aria scale data with Healthkit.   I expect to use Healthkit as my means of consolidating data from various devices (Fitbit, blood pressure monitor, GPS, etc.) that help me montior my health and fitness.

[agirlnamedmo]

I am very disappointed that Fitbit has decided to currently not make any plans to intergrate with Healthkit. I spent about 2 months decided which type of fitness tracker I was going to get - had I known that Fitbit would not integrate to be able to allow me to access all of MY personal data in 1 go, I would not have bought the product. I love the Fitbit platform and would have continued using that as my primary (as opposed to Healthkit) and would have been much more interested in purchasing (or at least trying out) the premium membership. BUT, with this reluctance to jump on a pretty impressive new way at looking at health data, I am doubting my decision to stay a Fitbit user. Should my Fitbit fail or I see no change in listening to your users, I will turn my purchasing power elsewhere and let people who ask know I tried and liked it, but the company doesn't change with the times. 

*Editted*: "What do you imagine a HealthKit integration would entail and what do you expect to get out of it?"

What Fitbit tracks is great. But I use other apps as well. I want to be able to go to my doctor with everything in one place. That is the point of Healthkit. To provide a communication link to health care professionals so people can be fully informed about their own bodies. 

(I'm a newish user and not certain how to vote, so please take my comments as a vote for integration)

[Tomharv]

The reason I bought an aria rather than a withings was because of your openness and integration with other platforms. I was expecting you to integrate with HealthKit - no "evaluation" involved. Your app takes step data from the motion coprocessor via one iOS api, but you need to wait and think about whether you're prepared to share data back the other way?

[saso115]

I vote for healthkit integration!

[LexIcon76]

I will wait until December. If they still have not integrated with the Health app, I will be getting rid of my Flex. I feel that they will truly regret not supporting Health Kit...

[GeezerDude]

I vote for HealthKit integration.  This really should be a no brainer for you.  Being a diabetic, I'm looking forward to tracking all my data in a single place.

[Katie_Brown]

Yes to iOS 8 and health app integration! 🙂

[MountainGurl]

Like every other user here, I want to see HealthKit integration.  It is helpful for me to use information from other apps that fitbit flex doesn't currently track.  For example, heart rate, oxygen, specific nutrition information, blood pressure...all of these are vital to my health and important information for me to share with my care provider.  I don't understand why it has not already happened.  You share data with Microsoft HealthVault, why not with HealthKit??

[SunsetRunner]

Not integrating Fitbit with Healthkit is a big tactical mistake.   I don’t need to tell you what to do.   You’re the ones that need to be creative.   If you don’t integrate in the next 30 days, I’m gone as a customer.  I’ll switch to a product that works well with Healthkit…..and I guarantee you that most of your other customers will too.   Don’t integrate at your peril!!

[GoOutside]

@zapleahy, if you're looking for ideas for how we'd like to see HealthKit integrated with Fitbit and what we would find valuable about that integration, I would encourage you to simply look at exactly what all of your competitors have done and at least match that. That's pretty much all that anybody is asking for. (See, this is not complicated.)

Signed,

Everybody

[Shay8]

Like my Fitbit devices but will definitely switch if they continue their current position on Healthkit. I'm sure other companies will seize on this very clear opportunity. The official statements are disappointing, it is sooo obvious why they are currently choosing to ignore Healthkit and it's definitely not for their Users benefit as they seem to imply. Open architecture is the future of health monitoring as one company/device won't be the best at everything, different Users have different requriements. 

[miles777]

Come on, Fitbit. I want to integrate my Flex and Aria data with Healthkit.  Just do it.

[Alacaeriel]

 Well, @zapleahy I do notice that you did not answer a question I, and several others, have asked: 

What is Fitbit spending all their time working on instead of HealthKit integration?

Just considering this conversation has been going on since June, and you still aren't considering integration, and are still asking your clients what they want from it?

[meste]

of couse I would like Fitbit to integrate with Apple Health app...

[meste]

I mean you are doing it with Microsoft's Health Vault and under IOS platform to TactioHealth, so allready with a step on IOS, so...

It is definetely not a difficult job as others are already doing it, it is only a matter of strategic decission and I am afraid it will put off many customers who are looking for integration.

Just my 2c

[GordonCopestake]

I believe that Fitbit HAS to integrate to survive. However I understand their reticence as it will affect their business model (people not buying devices). However the best way to compete is to out-inovate and provide more and better functionality over what the base iPhones M chips provide. If you cannot compete then Apple will eat your breakfast.