Tag: google account

Google Will Force Fitbit Users to Use a Google Account

Fitbit users interested in keeping their data out of Google’s reach may be in for a disappointment.

Google closed a deal to purchase Fitbit in early 2021 despite regulatory concerns. To finalize the deal, Google had to agree to a number of provisions, especially in regard to how Fitbit user data was handled.

Despite the assurances, Google has informed users that a Google account will be required for Fitbit users by 2025, a move that will no doubt raise new concerns about user data.

The company outlined its plans in a support document:

If you’re already a Fitbit customer, you can continue to use your existing Fitbit account with your existing Fitbit devices and services for as long as Fitbit accounts are supported. This will be until at least early 2025. After support of Fitbit accounts ends, a Google account will be required to use Fitbit. We’ll provide additional information in 2023 closer to the launch of Google accounts on Fitbit.

Google does assure users it will honor its binding agreements regarding how their data will be handled:

Google will continue to protect Fitbit customers’ privacy and has made a series of binding commitments with global regulators which include the confirmation that Fitbit users’ health and wellness data won’t be used for Google Ads. This data will be kept separate from Google Ads data.

In addition, during the migration flow before you complete the move, you’ll have the opportunity to review and make changes to your Fitbit data and setup. After you complete your move, you’ll continue to be able to manage your Fitbit data from your Google account settings and the Fitbit app.

Despite the assurances, many users will no doubt be unhappy with the change. As a result, Apple may come out as the biggest winner of the deal.

September 26, 2022
Google Really Wants You To Be Signed In

So, you know how Google keeps “forcing” Google+ on all of its users? It comes along with being signed into Google. It’s the social part of your Google experience, which stems from your Google identity. Google+ is Google, and if you’re signed in, you’re the kind of Google user Google wants.

It just so happens that Google is looking to get more people signed in, and is actually looking to hire someone who can get more people to sign in. Brian Ussery (via Search Engine Land) spotted a Google job listing for a Product Marketing Manager.

The listing says, “The mission of the search growth marketing team is to make that information universally accessible by enabling and educating users around the world to search on Google, search more often, and search while signed in. Research and analysis has shown that putting Google search access points at the fingertips of users is an effective way of achieving these goals. And the more users that are signed into Google, the better we can tailor their search results and create a unified experience across all of the Google products they use. As Product Marketing Manager within the search growth team, you will be responsible to developing plans, creatives, campaigns, and programs to increase the number of users signed in. You will be challenged to think above the obvious, creating and executing cutting-edge strategy for one of the world’s most recognized products.”

It’s nothing new that Google wants users to be signed in, and wants to tie all their products together for users to enrich their experiences from one product to the next. It is, however, interesting to see this kind of emphasis on getting more people to sign in, in a job description, which in in effect shows how much importance Google places on users not only searching with Google, but signing in before they can do it.

January 8, 2013
Google Apps For Business Drops Its Free Version, All New Customers Must Pay

Google Apps is used by 5 million businesses around the world. Some of those businesses are using the free version, while others pay for a premium service. A recent policy change ensures new customers won’t have a choice.

Yesterday evening, Google announced that Google Apps for Business is dropping its free service. Those currently using the free service won’t be affected. All new customers, however, will have to pay the $50 per person, per year fee that comes with the premium version of Google Apps for Business.

What’s the reason for the change? Google says it’s all about making Apps for Business straightforward. It was found that businesses who signed up for the free version quickly outgrew the limited resources provided, and switched to the premium version. With this, businesses won’t be confronted with the temptation of a free version that may not be the right fit for their business. Google also notes that switching everybody to the premium version allows it to focus on building the very best premium service.

Google notes that individuals had signed up for the free version of Google Apps for Business, but the company says that’s no longer needed. It suggests that individuals sign up for a personal Google Account since it provides most of the same services.

As for the other Google Apps services, they will remain unchanged. Google Apps for Education will still be free for all schools and universities. Google Apps for Government is still the same price of $50 per person, per year.

December 7, 2012
Google Sign-Up Means Google+ Sign-Up

Google announced this week that Google+ now has over 90 million users. That’s pretty impressive, considering it’s only been out about half a year.

It may help, however, that it comes as part of just signing up for a Google account now. Google+ began on an invitation-only basis. In fact, it was even called a project. Now it’s getting integrated into all kinds of Google products, including the company’s flagship product – search. When the “project” launched, even Google account holders had to get an invite.

Now, when you go to the page to sign up for Google, it is a heavily emphasized feature (hat tip: Alex Chitu). On the page, it says:

Your Google Account is more than just Search.
Talk, chat, share, schedule, store, organize, collaborate, discover and create. Use Google products from Gmail to Google+ to YouTube, view your search history, all with one username and password, all backed up all the time and easy to find at (you guessed it) Google.com.

Take it all with you.
A Google Account lets you access all your stuff — Gmail, photos and more — from any device. Search by taking pictures, or by voice. Get free turn-by-turn navigation, upload your pictures automatically, and soon even buy things with your phone using Google Wallet.

Share a little. Or share a lot.
Share selectively with friends, family (maybe even your boss) on Google+. Start a video Hangout with friends, text a group all at once, or just follow posts from people who fascinate you. Your call.

Work in the future.
Get a jump on the next era of doing, well, everything. Watch as colleagues or partners drop in a photo, update a spreadsheet, or improve a paragraph, in real-time, from 1,000 miles away. Google Docs is free with a Google Account.

Chitu, at the Google Operating System blog, shares a statement from a Google spokesperson: “We’re working to develop a consistent sign-up flow across our different products as part of our efforts to create an intuitive, beautifully simple, Google-wide user experience. Making it quick and easy to create a Google Account and a Google profile enables new users to take advantage of everything Google can offer.”

Google has been pretty clear about Google+ “being Google”. It’s just a social layer that Google has laid over the larger Google network of offerings. This is why when you compare Google+ to other social networks like Facebook, you really have to compare Google as a whole to those networks, which makes Google+ seem like a much larger contender than it would be otherwise. That’s kind of the beauty of Google’s strategy. That’s also why it may not be out of the realm of possibility for Facebook to potentially to consider doing a little more on the search front.

January 21, 2012