Thomas Lyons 
Amazon has announced that it is winding down its health-focused Halo devices and membership as part of its cost-cutting measures. The tech giant has informed its customers that it will issue refunds to anyone who purchased Amazon Halo devices in the past year. Refunds will also be issued to customers who have unused prepaid Halo subscriptions fees. Amazon introduced its Halo line in 2020 with the launch of a fitness-tracking wristband that worked alongside a subscription service and smartphone app. Since then, it has expanded the line to offer more wearables and a bedside device that tracks sleeping patterns.
The company has stated that it is proud of what it has built, but it has recently made the difficult decision to stop supporting Amazon Halo effective July 31, 2023. The Halo is the latest unit to get axed as by Amazon as it works to reduce costs amid worries about the wider economic environment and sluggish online sales. Among other cuts, the company has shuttered its hybrid virtual, in-home care service Amazon Care, the video calling device Amazon Glow, and scaled back its Scout delivery program in recent months.
Amazon has also stated that the Halo devices and app will no longer work after August 1. Users can download or delete their Halo health data. The company declined to share how many employees would be impacted. On Wednesday, it said it notified those affected in the US and Canada, and its working to notify employees in other regions.
The Amazon Halo device was designed to help users improve their health and wellness. It featured a number of sensors, including two microphones to analyse energy and positivity in the wearer’s voice. The device also tracked body fat percentage, activity, sleep, and even the tone of voice. The subscription service provided users with personalised health recommendations and insights based on their data.
However, the device faced criticism from some privacy advocates who raised concerns about the microphone feature, which they claimed could be used to listen in on conversations. Amazon has stated that the microphone feature was optional and could be turned off at any time. The company also said that it had implemented strong privacy and security measures to protect user data.
The decision to discontinue the Halo device comes as Amazon continues to face increasing competition in the health and wellness space. Apple has its own fitness-tracking device, the Apple Watch, and Google recently announced plans to acquire Fitbit. Amazon has not yet announced any plans to enter the smartwatch market, but it has been rumoured to be working on a wearable device that can detect emotions.
In conclusion, Amazon has announced that it is winding down its health-focused Halo devices and membership as part of its cost-cutting measures. The company has stated that it is proud of what it has built, but it has recently made the difficult decision to stop supporting Amazon Halo effective July 31, 2023. The Halo is the latest unit to get axed as by Amazon as it works to reduce costs amid worries about the wider economic environment and sluggish online sales. The Amazon Halo device was designed to help users improve their health and wellness. However, the device faced criticism from some privacy advocates who raised concerns about the microphone feature. The decision to discontinue the Halo device comes as Amazon continues to face increasing competition in the health and wellness space.
