Why does the Fitbit Sense doesn't have Google Pay?

[RB_Swe]

Great that Fitibit Sense has Google Assistant, but why not Google Pay?

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[DramaQueenDiva]

Hi @RB_Swe,

I'm not quite sure why, but I do know that Fitbit has Fitbit Pay, which is supported by several banks.  Not sure that helps!

[Giampi71]

As far as I know no smartwatches other than Wear OS ones offer Google Pay. I think the API doesn't exist hence the reason Fitbit couldn't integrate it on its products that runs with Fitbit OS and not Wear OS.

[SunsetRunner]

Also Google's acquisition of Fitbit has still to pass regulatory approval and like others have said the APIs needed aren't available to others.

[RB_Swe]

You are most likely correct,  but they have managed to create a API to Google Assistant.

So if they put some resources and effort in to the task, they will most likely succeed in creating that API too i guess.

[SunsetRunner]

It might also be that Google does not want anyone else being able to use Google Pay.  Of course this might all change when (if) Google's purchase of Fitbit is finally approved.

[Giampi71]

@RB_Swe API are created by the supplier of the service (in this case Google), not by the user (in this case Fitbit).

For Google Assistant since Google made available the API Fitbit (and for example Bose to say a different device type) could implement it.

[Waces]

True, but fitbit pay available only on versa, iconic and charge not on sense. So seems the latest one habe missing nfc based payment.

As per fitbit official, but seems in reality works on sense. So just need a revolut or curve card which is supported everywhere in case ypur bank not yet officially supported.

Moderator edit: merged reply

[stellafred]

Fitbit Pay works on the Sense. I’ve used it several times.

[SunsetRunner]

lol okay which major banks support this Fitbit pay? None that I know of. It's sorta of a joke to market Fitbit devices support a digital pay option. It's a joke

[Rich_Laue]

@SunsetRunner please remember that Fitbit pay like google pay, Garmon Pay, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, it is  the banks responsibility to add these virtual pay systems. 

Fitbit being the newest in the group probably is the reason for fewer banks. 

However Garmin and Samsung both reccomend their users to contact their banks. It might simply be that banks dont know that their users want Fitbit pay. 

[wookietim]

What is the difference between fitbit pay and google pay (And apple pay and Samsung pay)? Truth is, these different payment options really aren't that different - they all actually use the same protocols (As evidenced by the fact that if I go to a WaWa and want to pay using by Sense or my Samsung S10 they still just hit the Apple Pay key). The only diff is where the small payment goes that is attached to it (Apple Pay makes Apple somce extra money, Fitbit pay makes fitbit some extra money and so on).

[spinrite67]

@Rich_Laue

I appreciate what your saying and before posting my comment on here i did try calling my national bank here in Canada and they weren't helpful at all. All they said there isn't any plans in the near future to implement Fitbit Pay services. It may be the Banks responsibilites to add these pay systems but if Fitbit is going to create this service feature then i think they should assist their in business plans/ideas to banks on the idea how it would be beneficial for them. Rather then create a service, put it out there and do nothing to invest the time or effort to foster it along. Poor business planning is what i call it. I'm glad Google has ownership of this company now and maybe with the hopes of getting Google Pay on these devices. This is one of many things that fitbit does that make their companies creations, half baked. Never direct responses from fitbit engineers/software designers, etc. on the forums that address customers/members concerns on their devices, there seems to be a disconnect fitbit and customers desires. This is something that happened to Blackberry not too long ago with not listening to their customers.

[Rich_Laue]

Most banks already know about Fitbit pay, but as you where told, ultimately it is up to the bank. A little bit of code needs to be added to the banks system, something Fitbit does not have access to. 

[LekoFraggle]

This is not about banks not adding code or about not knowing about it. It is a sign that all major banks avoid it that they do not want their systems interacting with random services. It should not be on the consumer to seek out buisiness decisions for their major services. If Fitbit (or Samsung or anyone else) wants people to buy their watches for mobile payment, they need to seek out the banks. If they do not, the fact that they are not supported tells the consumer the service is neither safe nor secure. I know that is not the case, but that is what the lack of support communicates.

[_old_mate_]

A bit more integration with Google. IE. Google pay, Google fit and YouTube music, would really make this a pretty awesome device! 

[Rich_Laue]

The only interaction with Fitbit, @LekoFraggle is the bank simply sends a quick message, is this card still valid? 

[LekoFraggle]

While that may be true, it is irrelevant to my point. In general, people are leery of combining tech and their financial institutions. All the major US banks are unwilling (I know I have asked my two and they said no dice) to consider it. That tells the consumers that into is unsafe to store their card with this system. 

If Fitbit cared about this service, it would seek out the banks (like Google and apple did) to prove that it os safe. But they dod not do that which is why I feel this feature is as irrelevant as the altimeter in Android Wear Watches (which still does not allow Google fit to count stairs) Is it there? Yes. Is it useful? No. Will it work, maybe. Is it a reason to buy the watch, No.

[Rich_Laue]

You might want to look at the list of banks and transit authorities that have decided to support Fitbit. I only had to scroll 87 times through the list. We have about 18 dozen banks in the USA. 

We also have supporting banks in more than half of all countries. 3 of the top. 4 banks in the USA support Fitbit pay. 

[vitorf7]

Huge problem with that line of thinking is that the world isn't just the USA. I'm in the UK and none of the big banks, such as HSBC of which I'm a customer of is supported. HSBC is supported in the USA and then not supported in the UK.

It's Fitbit's responsibility to run after the banks and seek out to implement with them and offer the banks either an easy API to implement with them, an SDK or some sort of help to integrate with their new service in order that contactless payments through FitBit Pay are supported for those banks.

I'm a software engineer myself and know that while it's not just a simple few lines of code (as nothing ever is dispite what many many think) but also it is in the best interest of the company (Fitbit) that their services are seen as useful. Right now I'm doomed if I wanna pay with Fitbit Pay while I was ok to use Google Pay with a WearOS watch.

For many it feels like false advertising as they buy the Fitbit feeling they can use the service and end up not able to use It.