Will Apple Fitness+ be shut down?
What's the story
Apple is said to be re-evaluating the future of its subscription-based fitness platform, Apple Fitness+. The service is currently "under review" amid an internal reorganization, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported in his latest Power On newsletter. The platform has been struggling with high churn rates and modest revenue, making it one of Apple's "weakest digital offerings."
User loyalty
Complete shutdown unlikely
Despite its struggles, Apple Fitness+ has managed to keep a small but dedicated user base. This makes an outright shutdown of the service unlikely in the near future. Gurman notes that the platform is inexpensive to maintain and Apple may prefer to avoid negative headlines that could come with discontinuing it.
Service details
What is Apple Fitness+?
Launched in 2020, Apple Fitness+ is an ad-free platform offering guided workout videos across different exercise types such as yoga, strength training, and HIIT. The service comes at a monthly subscription fee of $9.99 and is part of the Apple One Premier bundle that includes several of the company's subscription services.
Leadership change
Health division to lead Fitness+
In a bid to revitalize the service, Apple is said to be placing Fitness+ under new leadership. Dr. Sumbul Desai, Apple's VP of health, will take charge of the platform as it now falls under the larger health division. This team will likely report directly to Eddy Cue, Apple's SVP of services, a move expected to increase accountability and performance demands for Fitness+.
Tech advancements
New satellite-based features for iPhones
Along with the Fitness+ revamp, Apple is also working on five new satellite-based features for its upcoming iPhone models. The company is said to be developing an API that would let third-party developers integrate satellite connectivity into their apps. Future versions of Apple Maps could also leverage this tech, enabling navigation without Wi-Fi or mobile data.