Nike Android pullout poor for customer support

Mark Needham criticises the sports giant's decision to pull the plug on its Android smartphone app

This week vendor Fitbit announced the latest version of its Android app, making these the first devices in its market to include Bluetooth synchronisation with Samsung's Galaxy S3 and Note 2.

Fitbit's embrace of Android contrasts with Nike's surprising decision to pull the plug on its Android companion app. The Nike Fuelband will synchronise its data via an iPhone, but not via Android.

Nike's decision, to me, seems poorly thought out.

The market for connected mobile "fitness" devices is growing rapidly and this latest announcement links what is probably the most popular such device in this country to the most widely sold Android-based phones.

Let me explain. Fitbit's activity trackers are small devices that clip on the user's clothing. Throughout the day, they can monitor how many steps the person takes and or how many stairs he or she climbs.

If, like me, you spend too many hours sitting in front of a computer screen, the information these devices feeds to you can nudge you into doing a little more exercise – as can another feature that pits you against friends and family.

The Fitbit Ultra, launched in the UK in January 2012, synchronises the data it collects via a wireless charger and stand that plugs into a USB socket on your desktop computer. Each time the device comes within the Wi-Fi range of this charger, data uploads to the Fitbit website.

The Fitbit Zip and One, new Fitbit models launched in the run-up to Christmas 2012, synchronised with an iPhone App via Bluetooth from the start.

I moved from the first generation device to the second generation device, and saw first-hand that it was easier to synchronise data through a smartphone.

The new Android app brings this same benefit to the very large market of Galaxy S3 and Note 2 users.

You can't travel around London without noticing how many people use these Samsung devices. What's more, Gartner research indicates that Samsung has overtaken Apple in worldwide smartphone sales.

Mark Needham is founder of Widget UK