Fitbit CEO: Apple Going The Wrong Way With Watch

Highlighting differences between Fitbit and Apple in how wearables are developed and marketed, Fitbit CEO James Park said Apple is doing it the wrong way.

In a news story published in The New York Times, Park said Apple's approach making wearable devices multi-purpose is the wrong way, while indicating that Fitbit approach of providing users a fitness wearable is the right way.

"We look at it from a consumer point of view. Apple Watch "is a computing platform, but that's really the wrong way to approach this category from the very beginning," he said.

Fitbit's devices help people track fitness related parameters like heart rate, performing limited number of tasks. While the company has registered profitable growth, its stock has declined ever since it went public. The competition with larger companies like Apple and multi-purpose products like Watch are said to be reasons though Fitbit holds the largest market share in the wearable sector. According to CNET, Fitbit sold 8.1 million devices in the last quarter of 2015 compared to an estimated 4.1 million units of Watch during the same period.

Park said Fitbit intends to keep its devices simple and easy to use for the consumer but will add features to the device when the need arises.

"I think one of the general knocks against smartwatches is that people still don't know what they're good for, so they've crammed everything in," Park said.

Analysts including Ming-Chi Kuo who has a sound reputation of predicting Apple's performance stated that an immature wearable market is to be blamed for shortfall in expected sales of Apple Watch.