Confirming previous reports, Fitbit, Inc. today announced that it has acquired specific assets of Pebble, including key personnel and intellectual property related to software and firmware development, but excluding the company's hardware products.

With this acquisition, Fitbit adds industry expertise in platform development that complements the company's expertise in health and fitness features. The additional resources will facilitate the faster delivery of new products, features and functionality while introducing speed to develop the general purpose utility needed in a connected device. The acquisition will also accelerate the development of customized solutions and third party applications for Fitbit Group Health customers and partners, including researchers, employers and providers.

Fitbit has developed a large global community of users by combining technology with insights, motivating millions of people reach their health and fitness goals.

"With Android usage accounting for nearly 90 percent of smartphone OS market share globally, the ability to deliver consumers cross-platform devices is a key competitive advantage in the wearables category," Fibit added. "As an early entrant in the category, Pebble was a trail blazer of the largest open, agnostic connected device operating system, which complements Fitbit?s broad cross-platform compatibility with more than 200 iOS, Android and Windows Phone devices."