Only a few days back, Garmin officially announced that it will be acquiring the consumer licensing brand Firstbeat Analytics and all its algorithms. Firstbeat Analytics was previously a fragment of Firstbeat Technologies.
Sports wearables and specially sport watches market will be affected largely by this development as many leading brands of the industry like Samsung, Casio, Huami, Xiaomi, Suunto and Huami received their metrics and analytics from Firstbeat Analytics. POLAR is one of the exceptions which develops sports metrics and analytics on its own and does not include a third party in the process. Apple and FitBit also work with their own sports analytics but not entirely.
Garmin has wide range of prodycts depending on analytics from Firstbeat Analytics. Many of the smartwatches developed by Garmin are dependant on Firstbeat Analytics for training effect, Real-Time Condition of Performance, Body Resources, Vo2Max, Respiration rate, Training load, Training Status. This list doesn’t just stop here as these all metrics are most noteable of the many that use Firstbeat Analytics to run on.
“Having utilized Firstbeat’s innovative analytics across our product lines for more than a decade, we are excited to have the Firstbeat Analytics associates join the Garmin team, establishing us at the forefront of physiological analytics,” stated Cliff Pemble “Together with their team of physiologists, scientists and engineers, we look forward to providing Garmin customers with unmatched technology for greater performance, recovery and overall health” Mr.Pemble is the President of Garmin and also its chief executive officer.
Not a lot is expected to change for other brands that are dependent on resources offered by Firstbeat analytics as long as these are licensed with it. What happens after the licenses are over is yet to be seen.
Firstbeat Analytics will be continuing its operation from Finland and other branches of Firstbeat technologies will continue to function as before. Garmin has not revealed any details around the financial specifications of the deal.