NEW YORK, Jan 10 — Of all the fitness trackers sold in the US, a new report finds that Fitbit reigns supreme, with 67 per cent of all such devices sold in the country last year being one of theirs.
Fitbit's devices also account for 77 per cent of the activity trackers shipped during the five weeks leading up to Christmas, according to a report from NPD Group.
NPD estimates that the digital fitness category is now a US$330 million (RM1 billion) market. “The market is now large enough to accommodate a variety of products aimed at all levels of athlete — from serious performance-minded consumers to hobbyists — a sure sign of maturity,” said NPD industry analyst Ben Arnold.
According to Mobihealthnews, Fitbit also enjoys a broad international reach, with more than 20,000 stores in North America carrying their devices, and more than 30,000 stores around the world doing so.
Findings also showed that fitness trackers were more than three times as popular this holiday season than they were back in 2012.
Wearable fitness devices, like Fitbit and Jawbone UP, enjoy the highest level of awareness among US consumers, NPD also reported. One in three consumers say they have heard of wearable fitness trackers, and among those consumers 28 per cent say they are likely to buy a device.
Among likely buyers, counting calories (50 per cent) and tracking the number of steps taken in a day (32 per cent) are the most sought-after features. Still, only six per cent say that they'd be willing to share their fitness data on a social network. — AFP-Relaxnews
