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.

[lasfl]

I also would love to see Fitbit work with IOS 8 Healthkit.  I have my MFP as a source for the IOS Healthkit and would love to have Fitbit for my activity, steps, sleep as well.  

[vinous]

I guess if users didn't really like Fitbit, they wouldn't be writing here requesting integration with Health app. On the other hand, the lack of initiative is the opposite of what one would expect from a company that is selling the idea of being active. Give the example, take action!

[Lpcustom]

I purchased the fit bit in advance of iOS 8 in anticipation of the device working with HealthKit- VERY dissapointed when I learned they "had no plans" to intergrate! Really? Just do it!

[Leisure]

I love the fitbit ecosystem. Unfortunately, fitbit does not have HR sensors, cadence sensors, BP sensors, cycling app (Strava), running with coaching (MiCoach), and integration with all these apps. I see the value of integrating with Health app to enable users to post activity into Fitbit that is captured by specilized apps that are not integrated - like strava or micoach. I don't think I would migrate from Fitbit's dashboard to a Health.... Honestly, if fitbit was integrated, I would probably stop using digifit and use strava and micoach; but continue using my fitbit dashboard. 

Health app has many issues as a tracker. To begin with, it stores data in the phone - no server app, no iPad app, dashboards are garbage... Should I continue? Fitbit should continue focusing on the outstanding value that it provides customers and continue playing nicely with 3Ps. Let Apple be the API layer and open the platform to further attract people to the wonderful ecosystem!

[SunsetRunner]

This is ridiculous. Health is a great way to centralise data, so Fitbit can help other apps (I'd love to use it with UP by Jawbone (no tracker) app) and it would be great to be able to instantly log data from other apps like a seven minute workout app without having to manually log it into Fitbit. We could also use apps like Nike+ Move, Argus, or Moves to keep tracking data if the battery in our Fitbit dies. Fitbit could also use data like weight and height to more accurately track steps and such. Fitbit was a great service, but without Health integration, it really makes me regret my purchase of a Flex tracker.

[faubry]

Please integrate fitbit with the Apple Healhkit. +1

[Craig]

This would be such a great addition. Well if it went further than we have on healthvault fitbit needt share all Glucose readings, BP readings and all. This is what has blown my mind with Healthvault they only get a few things.  If that is all that is going to happen on healthkit then it would be nor better for me than healthvault .

PS I would prefer keep health vault and fix the faults with it and fitbit

Thanks Craig 

[Ralf]

Also +1

When i bought my Fitbit Aria i expected Fitbit to add support for Healthkit ASAP.

I hate it that apps all keep their own data and i love the idea of Healthkit bringing them all together in a standardized API. Healthkit may not be perfect yet but i'm sure it will get there.

Apps that try to lock your data are a no go. Now i really wish i had gone for the Withings scale instead of the Fitbit Aria

[Bluejay]

I don't like the Health Kit dashboards, but it's potential as conduit to share info between apps that don't talk the same language (so to speak) is incredible. I foresee using HK the way any protocol is used. Can you imagine the Internet without transmission control protocol, Internet protocol, simple mail? It gives apps an universal way to talk in the iOS world. I can even imagine someone writing an app that takes HK data and display it in new way.

[phlsphr]

@zapleahy 

Thanks for taking the time to list out some of what has been heard. But your  response to my second question didn't give me the information I was most looking for, perhaps because I didn't ask the question very well. Here's what I really want to know:

Why not?

Clearly this is a feature that an enormous amount of your users really want and expect. So, what is holding you back? It's not even that hard. Tiny startup developers with a fraction of Fitbit's resources have done this with aplomb.

There's a lot more I could say, but let me just close with this. Imagine Fitbit posting an announcement tomorrow with the headline: We Listened!  

I don't think there is any credible way to finish that announcement without saying that HealthKit connectivity is coming, and coming quickly.

I truly think you are losing customers each day you delay that announcement.

[squiggs]

This should already be done. If an Apple user chooses to use the integration or not should be up the user and not the provider. Not integrating with Health will only push iPhone users to other products. I have both a fit bit and Aria wifi scale and wish I could import that data. You already integrate with other better calorie and exercise trackers, what is the difference integrating with one more third party application?  Was it lazyness or foolishness that made you not ready to inegrate at iOS8 launch?

[StalkingWolfSC]

@ssmurphyI totally agree. Any new products by them, regardless of how cool they are, will not even be considered by me to 1 reason, mentioned below. My wife ironically looked at me last night and said "Hey, looks like fitbit is finally making a new product. To bad it wont support healhtkit".  

/sigh

@zapleahy, nice report. I think you hit every nail on the head on the recap. The wording you used appeared to be just and correct as well. I agree with ever part you outlined. Seeing a company I love this much do this, is so mind blowing to me. Its like having your significant other that you have been married to for years cheating on you. As much as you love them, you are in disbelief and ready to kick them out the door and wonder if that "one more chance" should apply. But if I leave, I will not come back if you decide to put HK on.  I will no longer support you if you put HK on.  To fix this before people leave will ensure that they will not continue to harbor ill will towards your company.  Bad press is easy to get..good press is hard.  This can all go away, with the Healthkit API added.  At this point, your company can no longer consider this an oops. This is a blatant slap in our face and technology progressions face. This is mainly because you are the leading tech fitness company, imo.

I also value your point on how many of the users registered here to voice their opinion on this one topic, that is the largest request in your forum (despite it being an "apple" user request). So I'm glad you see that as well.

I do partially wonder if fitbit feels the user base's threat to find another product is empty. I do not believe it is. I will highly get the apple iWatch, but for a 24 hour life span, I'm not sure I like that. But I will get it. I would LOVE to have my fitbit on the other hand at the same time. I would LOVE to see these 2 products sync to healthkit and then MESH the data together for a more accurate account of my day. The more data provided, the better assessment I get. I would love to continue to support your company, but in the end, its about my HEALTH. I supported fitbit for my health. They are the best. I believe with all my heart that a unified healthkit system, especially in a country where our healthcare is so broken, is the best way to go. You not supporting this reminds me of another company who doesn't want to fix our healthcare system.  If you can't support this, than it hurts me to say I can't support you.

Your post does appear to show that you hear us. I am "in a good mood" but as the holiday season IS coming, I have done my fair share of research into other products to replace my fitbit and aria scale. My health and my families health...is more important than your product. It will always be. Your product use to support my health the best on the market (imo), but its falling behind in time. If time and progression didn't matter, then we'd all be rocking a flip phone vs a touch screen.  If I can improve my health with other products, I will. Please don’t make me do this.

@phlspher well said!

[elgrannada]

Dear @Allison,

There are many things I like about the new fitbit dashboard. Even so, the fitbit dashboard lacks certain functionality that other dashboard provide, as do fitbit's products - for example, fitbit does not have products that capture blood pressure, heart rate or oximetry.

The point about integration with other apps, is that it allows customers do combine different data inputs to meet their health data needs/wants - without having to switch to a new device.

If fitbit integrated with other apps, I wouldn't need to be on the fence about whether to keep using the Flex. I wouldn't even be on this site wondering what is creating this disfunctionality within fitbit.

What I fail to understand is - with or without the 1000+ plus comments you have received from your most active customers - why does fitbit need to keep evaluating the performance, etc. of the Health app before deciding whether to integrate, when its competitors have already unequivocally decided to integrate - including Withings, Jawbone, Garmin...

In the meatime, all this "evaluation" does is lead to lots of window shopping for other devices - and eventually customers may find a new device everybit as good, if not better, than a fitbit...

[vinous]

Everyday I come to this forum hoping to hear that Fitbit will integrate with Health app. And each time I don't see any progress towards that, I feel less inclined to be a customer and an advertiser for this company. Wonder how many customers feel the same way...

[cleetis]

This is wrong.  Your users want you to integrate to HealthKit and every day you don't it's more and more likely those users will start looking for something else.

[shawnrask]

Integration with Apple's Health Kit will be the deciding factor when it comes to buying a fitbit product EVER AGAIN. I have loved my fitbit products ever since i first got an ultra years ago. With the utter disregard for customer desires, fitbit is really proving to be a terrible company. It should be about your customer's desires, not your hubris.  

[drichard]

Ok so i know you're going to hate this but yes this email is about healthkit but i'll be short.

as a long time fitbit user ( 2 fitbit ones a flex and a scale + 8 color flex bands) you guys are the best in the wearable game period. witchings tracker is ugly and with nike leaving the game you guys are the top dog, start ups may try but your head start will be too much for them to make up.

And i understand your stance on not integrating with healthkit as a business you could be thinking... the customers have been with us thus far without healthkit why change now, your trackers are still counting steps, the dashboard looks good why waste the manpower integrating a feature you currently already have.

So if I know all of this why and i still championing for healthkit integration easy....i spent a lot of money backing this fitbit horse and i would like to see it win the smart race, the long race.

Up till now your main focus has been on trackers due to the fact your scale does everything a normal person would need. but with the side step that was the fitbit force allowed many companies to make products that fills the hole that weren't covered with the forces recall

I hope the fitbit charge HR is what the force should have been from the start aka the ability to change the band colors with the color options of the flex with better water resistance.

but back to healthkit unless fitbit is ready to address the holes in their armor and shut down all competitors by adding a blood pressure monitor and dedicated sleeping tracker like withings and a wrist wearable that is a mix between the force and the flex that can change colors and can be worn in the shower that count steps and monitor HR all day. adding Healthkit really is the best and easy/cheapest answer by doing so fitbit fans can keep wearing their tracker add the missing pieces that they wish you had and not look to leave your eco system and most importantly crush any thought of buying the apple watch.

As an IT professional I already have WAY too much money tied up in watches so the apple watch is cool but id rather spend $400 on two items and keep using fitbit and all my watches thanks to healthkit integration than spend close to a $1000 on a whole health tracking system change and have to settle on one watch to get all the tracking that i'm looking for.

So dear Fitbit please help us and our wallets because if not our inner geek is just too strong and apple will win another piece of our soul well in this case our hearts

[Bluejay]

Bottom line.

Fitbit has until my One dies (it's my second one, so... it happens). My biggest need it to integrate my fitness, diet, and glucose records. With Health Kit I don't have to go all in with one company like iHealthLabs, the still in development infraV smartwatch, or something else not out yet.

Health Kit can be a huge win for many companies. GlookoBook and SiDiary the best diabetes apps out there because of the number of meters that work with them, would only be better. 

[frstdm]

Kind of a dumb question to users... we'd like to see the functionality that the health app gives. One place for all health data from all companies' apps.  Believe it or not, fitbit, you're not the only game in town.  There is more to health than walking and weighing.

[PaulT]

+1 for Healthkit as a 2x fitbit owner (Force & Flex).

Your competitors such as Withings are already integrated, and without that integration Fitbit has sold its last product to me.

[jimbowman]

I bought the Flex and the Aria scale expecting Fitbit to make the no-brainer decision to add support for Healthkit. I am very disappointed to find out that they will not be doing so. So I have to say my next fitness tracking devices will not be made by Fitbit.

[msupreme2284]

Apple Stores to stop selling Fitbit devices.

http://recode.net/2014/10/15/apple-plans-to-stop-selling-fitbit-devices-from-stores/

Learn your lesson. The integration to HealthKit cannot be this hard and time consuming that you cannot afford to take away your development resources to push out a simple release. Every project has slack built to account for such developments.

[SunsetRunner]

Bitter ending http://recode.net/2014/10/15/apple-plans-to-stop-selling-fitbit-devices-from-stores/

[atheros07]

Super disappointed with Fitbit's tone deaf response.  I've had a Force and a Flex, and I was planning on getting either the upcoming Fitbit Charge and Fitbit Charge-- which sound awesome.   But without HealthKit integration, not sure why I should continue to invest in the Fitbit platform.  

[yippy]

Without HealthKit integration, my next fitness tracker will not be a Fitbit.  Refusing to support it is unacceptable.

Hopefully being kicked out of the Apple store is a wakeup call.