Google isn't the only company shutting down what it deems are superfluous devices and services with Amazon announcing that it's pulling the shutters down on its Halo division. This is despite having launched the Halo Rise sleep tracker back in September 2022. Amazon stated that support for all devices under the Halo brand will be discontinued on July 31st, 2023. We've got more info on refunds and job layoffs after the break.
Amazon sent the above email to Halo customers in which it states that customers who purchased any Halo device or accessory band in the past 12 months will receive a full refund. Unused Halo subscription fees will also be refunded and Amazon will no longer take payments for the service.
All devices will cease to work on August 1st, 2023, and Amazon also says that all remaining user data will be deleted, with users able to manually download or delete their data via the Settings page in the Halo app.
According to a memo obtained by The Verge, Melissa Cha, the company vice president of smart home and health, informed Halo staff that there would be a number of layoffs:
“We have made the difficult decision to wind down the Halo program, which will result in role reductions. More recently, Halo has faced significant headwinds, including an increasingly crowded segment and an uncertain economic environment. Although our customers love many aspects of Halo, we must prioritize resources and maximize benefits to customers and the long-term health of the business.”
It's not great news for those who bought into the Halo ecosystem (which admittedly consists of just three devices) but at least Amazon is promising to refund orders placed in the past twelve months.
