Pokemon Go Adventure Sync Support

[Android_Squish]

Pokemon Go is soon to roll out a feature allowing external apps (namely Apple Health and Google Fit) to track steps and distance without needing to have the Pokemon Go app running.  It would be great if Fitbit's services could be supported as well.  As it stands, Google Fit and Apple Health do not officially work with Fitbit.

[Iayukawa]

I was excited over being able to use my Fitbit more as I cannot have my phone with me when I get most of my steps. The move by Niantic to deem 3rd party data useless was upsetting, but Fitbit has had YEARS of customer interest in Google Fit integration. They have never been interested in it, and as such I am not interested in defending Fitbit anymore either. They had time to get ahead of this, and they did not.

[idolon]

This is what lead me to this forum.  Pokemon actually gets me to get out and walking and the new step import feature is a game changer for me.  Being able to sync my Fitbit would be really great and keep me as a Fitbit customer.  (And no, I'm not putting my passwords into some anonymous, free sync app in the play store.)

[Skyrider]

@idolon

Putting your password, what? You aren't even giving your password. You merely allow the app to access fitbits API and Google fit data. No passwords are involved  besides logging into the official fitbit website  

[BitsAndBobs]

I realised today that Adventure sync I Pokémon go was a thing. And rushed to check if my Fitbit device was compatible. Not yet I see. So I would like to join the voices to request a Pokémon go integration with the Fitbit app. I don't get though why so many are asking for data to go through Google Fit. I would much rather use a direct integration, than having to go through an extra applications. It seems to me that it would be a much more viable solution to have data exported directly to my Pokémon go account, than having to go through, what I can only assume is a competetors app. But anyway that must be up to Fitbit and Niantic to figure out. The request from here is just Fitbit support for Adventure Sync would be awesome and the sooner the better ofc 😉

[Rich_Laue]

With fitbits open API it should not be hard for Pokemon go to link up to Fitbit. Have you thought about asking them? They would not need fitbits permission, since Fitbit has already given it. 

[Iayukawa]

The issue is that Fitbit does not allow syncing with Google fit directly. People have been asking for that for years even before this, and they have explicitly stated that they have zero interest in making this feature available. People have to use a 3rd party app to do what they should have done because they view Google as a competitor instead of a partner. And if that is going to be their official stance on it, then count me out. I'm done. My next tracker is going to be with a company that wants to work with others.

And don't think that I am singling out fitbit in this. I have also told Niantic that limiting it to only Google Fit data (all 3rd party data is flagged as no good) is a bad move.

[Rich_Laue]

So that won't stop Pokemon go from linking directly to Fitbit, in the same way they are linking to Google?

Google did not initiate the link up to Pokemon go.

Heck I have a Google spreadsheet that gets yesterday's steps and sleep e ery day? I did not ask for fitbits permission, I simply used their API. 

The issue is that they are not aware of the API or they do not want to pair up with Fitbit.

[Iayukawa]

What are you talking about? The data from the trackers has to go through the fitbit app first. They even said so here.

[Rich_Laue]

Yes your trackers data goes to your Fitbit account.

Any third party app can gain access to your Fitbit data through fitbits API.

This is how My Fitbess Pal gets the data, Walgreens gets my data this way.

We have a list of known apps

[Iayukawa]

I stated before that I knew what you said. I also stated that 3rd party data is invalid within Pokemon Go, which you seemed to have missed. The blame for this issue falls upon many. Pokemon Go/Niantic could decide to allow third party tracking data or directly sync with Fitbit devices, Google could work on this too, and Fitbit could also do what people have asked for years and allow direct syncing with the Google Fit app and other apps to avoid this in the first place.

I don't want to use a third party app because that is what the problem is. Furthermore, it is 3rd party developers who have stepped up to do what Fitbit should have done in the first place 

[Rich_Laue]

I'm not sure what you mean by third party data is not ok with Pokemon go then say if Google was able to to get your Fitbit data, Pokemon go would be happy.

I also don't understand what your implying, Fitbit data is third party to Fitbit?

If Pokemon doesn't accept third party data then they will have to make there own hardware to collect the data. By definition using third party hardware to collect data for you is depending on third parties.

[Iayukawa]

Let me spell it out for you then.

Fitbit gets the tracking data from your tracker via the bluetooth connection. There is no intermediary, so this is 1st party data. This data can be transferred to other apps, but these apps are just receiving a copy of the data from fitbit. They are not receiving it from the tracker. 

Google Fit and many other apps, if not all, cannot directly access the tracker itself. It cannot use the bluetooth connection between the device and the tracker. It has to be imported from Fitbit via a different, so it is 3rd party data.

Pokemon Go cannot use this 3rd party data. Pokemon Go also cannot read the data from Fitbit trackers because no one can.

It is probably to keep people from spoofing the data, which is why it's important for Google fit or Pokemon Go to be able to use the bluetooth connection to read the data.

[Rich_Laue]

Fitbit encrypts your data from the tracker. If Google connected directly to the Fitbit data. The tracker would be 1st party, Google would be 2nd part, Pokemon Go would be 3rd party.

Would a third party know how to interpret the data from the tracker? The Linux community has been trying to do this for the last eight years, and have failed. 

Yes Google c a n connect directly to Android Wear, but let's see if Google can connect to an AW.

[SantiR]

Hi everyone thanks for sharing this suggestion. This is being discussed although I do not have a firm commitment or timeline at the moment. Do continue to vote for this feature suggestion whilst it’s under consideration. Please note that if something is under consideration and chosen for development, it can be a while until it's released or until I have any news to share. Please watch this space for any updates! Thanks for your patience.

[Aiiro]

@BitsAndBobs There is also a huge interest in a native sync between Fitbit and Google Fit for years, which is not related to Pokémon Go. So implementing it via Google Fit / Apple Health would also benefit other Fitbit customers, not playing Pokémon Go. If this will be implemented, why not make even more customers happy?

Also Niantic is probably not interested in implementing an interface for every fitness tracker company out there (there are also other companies besides Fitbit). This has no benefit for them, it's just additional work. I would imagine they are more interested in a solution via their already existing interfaces.

Google and Apple are probably interested in interfaces to fitness tracker company as it would benefit their app.

Therefore, the best solution seems to be via Google Fit / Apple Health. But it's just a suggestion. The general request is supporting the Adventure Sync feature. Also these are just assumptions. Fitbit will figure out what the best solution will be for them. There might also be technical or legal issues we are not aware of. But if requesting (wishing) for something, why not for a solution that seems to be beneficial for everybody involved and especially for the customers?

[raitchison]

Would also like to add my support for this feature.

This is a natural fit as far as applications are concerned.

[rodjoh]

After using Adventure Sync for a few days now I can safely say this is truly an appreciated addition to Pokemon Go. I do most of my workout in a gym and now I can count that progress towards the game, unlike before where only outdoor walks would count, and only while the game was running and you were awkwardly holding the phone all the time with the screen on.

Now here is the thing about that, if Fitbit could natively support Google Fit (and if PoGo actually accepted that data)  I wouldn't have to set everything twice. Currently when I use the treadmill I have to start that workout on the fitbit and also on google fit. One for it to count on my regular fitbit tracking, and the other for it to count on Google Fit and therefore to Pokemon Go.  The other thing is, you have to keep the phone in your pocket or somewhere attached so the app knows you are actually moving. Once you stop moving the workout stops as well or at least I think thats how it worked for me. I would rather have my phone free when Im using a treadmill so I can, you know, watch videos or something... or just feel more comfortable without that heavy thing in my gym shorts pocket. you know? I already have a tracker on my wrist so why would I use my phone like that..

The one thing I would say I'm not too sure about is how would the integration work for outdoor walks with trackers that dont have GPS. Im thinking that we should be selective on what should be tracked by the tracker and what should be tracked through the phone. Versa owner here. 

[WakingQt]

Agree with many of the things said here. I tried to hard to get the Fitbit badges to motivate me but it’s really hard because at the end of the day their just badges. Playing Pokémon go makes me want to walk. Right now all I use my fitbit for is a vibrating alarm clock so I don’t wake my partner. If Fitbit had pogo integration (Apple health for me) I’d be a lot more motivated to wear my band everyday / upgrade to nicer ones. Think about all the games that could easily integrate once Fitbit sets up with Apple health.

This would be a great feature and I never cast my vote online but this is how much it would rock to me! Thanks for your consideration. 

[Helios90]

I got a new Fitbit (a Versa) back in June after an accident damaged my old Charge 2. I’ll use it until it breaks but if Pokemon Go integration isn’t introduced by that point then I’ll sadly replace my Versa with a compatible smartwatch. Just commenting as I feel like I’m probably not alone, I love the Fitbit app and have a lot of data invested but for the utility of tracking my steps in Pokemon Go I would leave it all behind whenever that time comes. 

[squirrelwrath66]

I think this would make my experience with my current fitbit way more exciting. I like it so I can more accurately track steps (to gain extra HRA money from work) and sleep since my phone alone cant do that. It's just unrealistic to carry a phone everywhere. Pokemon go is probably one of my most used apps on my phone and to cash in on all my steps for the game would enhance the experience much much more for both Pokemon Go and Fitbit. I think the fanbase that is very committed to pokemon go would also increase purchases on Fitbit devices if it were compatible. 

[DarkSakura]

For a fitness device company trying to compete with other brands in the same area, its surprising why it still doesn't have Google Fit/Apple Health integration. This features seems like a no-brainer....

Rather see Google Fit integration than spending time implementing the "women's health" feature. I tried it out, but still prefer to use a different app for that.

[Prometheus_]

As a consistent Fitbit Versa user, and a pokemon go player, this would be a cool integration. I'm currently using the Google Fit integration but it feels less accurate than Fitbit.

[JanceyB]

My charge HR recently gave up the ghost so I'm in the market for a new one. Been looking at android watches though because I want sync with Pokemon go 

[GlutenFreeMama]

 My current fitbit blaze has had a fatal malfunction so I am currently awaiting my brand new versa and seeing this topic, that my steps will be unable to count towards pogo, actually makes me regret buying it and wish that I had spent the extra money on an Apple Watch,  I’ll stick with it and use it till it breaks, but if at that time there is no interface I will probably be forced to switch to a company that does and that breaks my heart!

[icosa20]

This would be an incredible addition to both Pokemon GO and to FitBit. I am an emphatic supporter of making this happen!