SOS
and live tracking features will no longer work after April 3.
By: Alison Wade
Published March 20, 2015
In an e-mail to
customers this morning Bia Sport announced that the company that made the GPS
watches that are specific to women, would cease operations with immediate
effect.
"We have moved heaven and earth, but were unable to raise sufficient capital to the outside in order to pursue their activities in Bia a sustainable business and to grow. We are on the way. There is no other choice," the company wrote in its statement.
The watches were for their lightweight construction, quick-GPS and SOS feature that was announced to allow their location with the touch of a button to alert users in case of emergency, predefined contacts.
First of a Kickstarter campaign that funded raised more than $ 400,000 in 36 days in 2012, the Bia Sport Watches began early 2014 Kickstarter backers get the watch at a reduced price and watches were made available to the general public for 279 $.
Cheryl Kellond and Sylvia Marino, the founder of the company, said in its statement that the watch will continue as usual until April 3, but, on or after that date, the SOS functionality and monitoring capacity real-time, based on third-party mobile phone service no longer function. The watches will keep their GPS tracking capabilities, but the Web site on which users now upload your workout data to live only until May 22, 2015.
The statement directs users with additional questions to a FAQ page which says that the company continues to buy its 30-day return policy on watches from his shop to honor. The watches are no longer sold in the Bia Sport website, but are still available on Amazon.com in limited quantities.
Kellond, an Ironman triathlete and MIT graduate, and Marino, an open water swimmer, got into the business clockwork when they could not find what they wanted in the market. They aim to provide a clock that was easy to use and meets the needs of workers, how to make them.
Kellond added a personal touch to the announcement, said: "Please keep in mind that our team in mourning for this loss with you."
Bia Sport watches were for the promotion of messages they offered at the end of each training session known as "super!" "High 5" In his letter, compared Kellond his company to a DNF to develop "Hardness Factor" or lack of sustainable business in a big race and to continue to try to inspire their customers.
"Business is like sport, sometimes, no matter how hard-working and intelligent as you work, no matter how experienced and you are prepared, you can DNF great race. When this happens, there is not that time and the money in the races that have invested to evil leads, they are the victims, who do around you to support you.
The feeling
that you have let them most bites "Kellond letter.
"The irony is that the very act of trying something very difficult as you might not be exactly what inspired those around you. To brave enough to be your borders, brave enough to be the risk of its failure a rare thing. "
"The irony is that the very act of trying something very difficult as you might not be exactly what inspired those around you. To brave enough to be your borders, brave enough to be the risk of its failure a rare thing. "
