Both Fitbit and HPB have clarified that media reports that the Singapore government is planning to give away one million free Fitbit devices are not correct.
* This story first appeared in Haleness Me.
The “free” Inspire Fitbit HR tracker for the 1 million Fitbit Premium service subscribers that Fitbit is targeting.
Both clarifications are very similarly worded and are appended below.
Essentially, the clarifications addresses two issues: who is actually giving out the free Inspire HR trackers, and whether other partners have been selected by HPB for other collaborations.
Below is Fitbit’s clarification.
“Media reports that the Singapore government is planning to give away one million free Fitbit devices are not correct.
In Fitbit’s collaboration with the Singapore Health Promotion Board on a new population-based health initiative, Live Healthy SG, Fitbit will be the ones providing free Inspire HR trackers to participants who commit to a 12-month subscription to our Fitbit Premium service.
This Fitbit Premium service is developed, operated and owned by Fitbit. This Fitbit program will run alongside other existing population-based health programs by the Health Promotion Board, such as Singapore’s National Steps Challenge and Eat Drink Shop Healthy Challenge, where Singaporeans can take part in, at no participation cost.
Fitbit is one of several partners identified through the call for collaboration by the Health Promotion Board for industry partnerships. Any suggestion in the media that any other players have not been selected under the call for collaboration is untrue. As highlighted in the media release, it is the intention of the Health Promotion Board to continue to work with industry innovators beyond Fitbit.”
And here’s HPB’s clarifications.
“The Health Promotion Board would like to clarify that media reports that suggest that the Singapore government is planning to give away one million free Fitbit devices are not correct.
The Health Promotion Board is not giving away any free Fitbit devices.
As per the announcement by Fitbit, it is Fitbit who will be giving out free Inspire HR trackers to participants who commit to a 12-month subscription to their Fitbit Premium service which is developed, operated and owned by Fitbit. Programmes managed by the Health Promotion Board, such as Singapore’s National Steps Challenge and Eat Drink Shop Healthy Challenge, continue to be open to all Singaporeans, at no participation cost.
We would like to reiterate that Fitbit is one of several partners identified through a call for collaboration by the Health Promotion Board for industry partnerships. Any suggestion in the media that no other players have been selected under the call for collaboration is untrue. The Health Promotion Board intends to also work with other industry innovators, beyond Fitbit, on the use of technology to encourage healthy living. Details of any other partnerships will be shared with the media when ready.”
Tags: clarifications, correction, Fitbit, fitness, health, HPB, public health, Singapore, wishbe