R.I.P Nike Fuelband. Here lies Nike’s fitness wearable, probably. According to sources who spoke with CNET, Nike has laid off 55 of the 70 strong Nike Fuelband hardware team, prompting the rumour that Nike may be shuttering development of its only fitness wearable. This is likely a move to refocus Nike’s aspirations, who just recently announced a Fuel Lab in San Francisco that aims to provide more digital services to athletes.
This move don’t come as much as a surprise as Nike has insisted on leaning on its close working relationship with Apple (Apple CEO, Tim Cook, is on Nike’s board). So much so that the Nike Fuelband (assuming this news is true) will be buried as an iOS-exclusive wearable and never having experienced the nigh-on 80% of smartphones that are Android based devices. Other pundits suggest that the Fuelband’s undoing was more likely due to its relationship with Apple and the rumoured Apple wearable that we’ve all heard so much about. A partnership between and Nike software and Apple hardware would be far more lucrative for the sports wear giant, however that’s all still a pipe dream at this point.
What do you think about the news that Nike is likely going to dump their fitness wearable? Let us know your opinion in the comments.
