FCC filings may refer to a new fitness tracker from Google / Fitbit
Recently published documents at the FCC suggest a new fitness tracker. Even though the publication was done under the name of Google LLC, the Fitbit Luxe 2 or Ace 4 could be on the horizon.
News from Fitbit has been scarce this year, especially when it comes to new devices. For this reason, the listings at the FCC come as a bit of a surprise.
Apparently, it initially was 9to5google that took note of the new documents at the FCC. Unfortunately, the documents contain very few specific information. Conclusions about products must be derived from the limited information available.
Fitbit or Google after all?
The documents were published in the context of Google and not Fitbit. Accordingly, the identification of the documents is completely different. As a reminder: The numbers under which previous documents for Fitbit devices were filed all start with “XRAFB” followed by a number. The model numbers of the devices themselves all start with “FB”. Listings for Google devices at the FCC generally begin with the abbreviation “A4RG”, so the new documents under the number A4RG3MP5 with the corresponding model number G3MP5 have nothing to do with Fitbit anymore.
This suggests a broader perspective and fuels the suspicion that the Fitbit brand will continue to lose its appeal.
Bluetooth, but neither Wi-Fi nor NFC
Even though the information about the products is sparse, it’s always possible to deduce which wireless technologies are being used. Because the described device only uses Bluetooth and omits Wi-Fi and NFC, successors to Versa 4, Sense 2, and Charge 5 can be ruled out with a fair degree of certainty.
At least for the successor of the Fitbit Charge 5, there remains a residual risk, as the way Google reconfigures the functions across its products leaves open the possibility that contactless payment might only be reserved for smartwatches.
This shifts the focus more toward the Fitbit Luxe 2 and the Fitbit Ace 4. Both the stylish fitness tracker and the fitness tracker for kids are expecting product updates.
Introduction as part of IFA
The timing gives hope that the new product will be introduced at the IFA starting on September 1. What gives me pause for thought is that Fitbit is not offering any booth appointments this year – something I would have expected for the launch of a new product. There’s nothing else to do but wait and see.