Whistle Pet Trackers Discontinued After Acquisition
▼ Summary
– Whistle pet trackers are being discontinued after Tractive, a competitor, acquired Whistle and decided to brick its devices.
– Tractive bought Whistle from Mars Petcare to expand its US market presence, offering replacement devices until September 30.
– Whistle subscribers will have their plans transferred to Tractive, while non-subscribers must pay for a new Tractive subscription starting at $108/year.
– Tractive cited operational challenges in maintaining two separate platforms, opting to consolidate under one ecosystem for better service and innovation.
– Some Whistle users are hesitant to switch as Tractive lacks certain features like tracking licking, scratching, and eating, despite offering new metrics like heart rate monitoring.
Whistle pet trackers are officially being phased out following their acquisition by competitor Tractive, leaving pet owners to transition to a new tracking system. The once-popular GPS and activity monitors will cease functioning as Tractive integrates Whistle’s technology into its own platform, marking the end of an era for the Seattle-based brand.
Whistle, which launched its first product in 2013, was acquired by Mars Petcare in 2016 for $117 million before being sold to Tractive. The Austrian company, a direct competitor in the pet tracking space, plans to discontinue Whistle’s devices entirely. Existing users have until September 30 to switch to Tractive’s hardware, with subscription plans automatically transferring for current Whistle subscribers. Those without active subscriptions will need to purchase a new Tractive plan, starting at $108 per year, to receive a replacement device.
Tractive cited operational challenges as the reason for shutting down Whistle’s ecosystem. Managing two separate platforms, each with its own devices, apps, and software, would strain resources and slow innovation. Consolidating under a single system allows the company to focus on delivering faster updates and more reliable features for all users, including former Whistle customers.
While Tractive’s trackers offer advantages like resting heart rate and respiratory monitoring, some Whistle loyalists remain hesitant. The transition means losing certain unique features, such as the Health 2.0 Smart Device’s ability to track behaviors like licking, scratching, and eating patterns. For pet owners who relied on these specialized metrics, the shift may require adjusting to a different set of tools.
The move highlights the competitive nature of the pet tech industry, where acquisitions often lead to streamlined product lines, sometimes at the cost of beloved features. As Whistle devices fade out, Tractive aims to position itself as the go-to solution for GPS pet tracking, though not without some resistance from longtime users.
(Source: Ars Technica)
