Microsoft kills off Smart Watches

Author: Gareth Halfacree
Published: 25th April 2008
Comments (11) Stumble
Alas, poor Smart Watch - we hardly knew you.

Alas, poor Smart Watch - we hardly knew you.

If I told you that Microsoft has decided to kill off its range of SPOT-enabled Smart Watches, you'd be forgiven for asking what the heck I was talking about. So, a little background might be in order.

SPOT, or Smart Personal Objects Technology, is a Microsoft initiative aimed at creating 'intelligent' devices that can receive and display useful data. The first attempts at commercialising this technology into an actual product resulted in the Smart Watch – a range of wristborne products that tapped in to an FM broadcast service to display news and weather information.

While the devices were initially popular with gadget obsessed technophiles living within the DirectBand coverage area, the rather poor design and bulky size of the watches – along with a rather steep $9.95 per month subscription fee to MSN Direct – meant that they never had a mass-market appeal. The failure of the watches to make much of an impact in their home turf, along with the lack of available cheap spectrum for commercial radio services, meant that we never even got to see them in action this side of the pond.

With that kind of outlook, it should come as no great surprise that after five years Microsoft is finally pulling the plug on the project. In a statement the SPOT Program Manager at MSN Direct Jon Canan stated that the last Smart Watches had sold out and would no longer be for sale. Canan stated that MSN Direct and their hardware partners “do not have immediate plans to create a new version of the Smart Watch, as we are focused on other areas of our business,” but assured users that his company “will maintain support of our watch customers and continue to deliver information to the watches.”

While it's no great shock that the service tanked – paying such a high subscription to something most mobile phones will do for a small cost in data transfer charges was never going to be a winner – I have to admit to seeing the Smart Watch programme disappear with a small but palpable feeling of loss. Being the sad gadget freak I am, I always wanted a radio-enabled watch that would tell me what the weather was like without having to venture into the Big Blue Room.

Any American readers who own a Smart Watch and have any comments on how useful a device it may or may not be, or did we all smell a dead tech from a hundred paces and avoid it altogether? Share your thoughts over in the forums.
Quote r4tch3t 25th April 2008, 10:36
When I read this, I was thinking that is such a good idea, then I read the subscription charge, stupid idea.
Ah well RIP SPOT.
Quote Jordan Wise 25th April 2008, 11:06
to quote the parrot from aladdin: "Why am I not surprised?"
Quote Darkedge 25th April 2008, 11:21
Assured users that his company “will maintain support of our watch customers and continue to deliver information to the watches.”

What all 5 of them? All who probably work for MS...
Yeah the subscription killed this, otherwise good idea
Quote Laitainion 25th April 2008, 11:23
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jordan Wise
to quote the parrot from aladdin: "Why am I not surprised?"

Iago, that was the parrots name. ;-)
Quote Bauul 25th April 2008, 13:26
A watch to tell you the weather....

What, exactly, was wrong with looking out of a window?
Quote Jordan Wise 25th April 2008, 13:53
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bauul
A watch to tell you the weather....

What, exactly, was wrong with looking out of a window?

most of us reside in rooms with the curtains drawn 24/7, i know i do, and its just effort, actually standing up and looking

Edit: ahhhh, lago!
Quote Davey 26th April 2008, 05:02
I live in Maryland, have had no trouble with receiving information on my watch, or with time. I recently went down to North Carolina, where my watch was also receiving updates. While my GPS system had failed in the vincinity of Seymour Johnson AFB. I've also been out there as far as my cell phone not being out to reach a cell tower to call out, but nobody finds fault with that.
Quote Davey 26th April 2008, 05:05
I almost forgot to tell you, that all this information has been free for years now. I get headlines, stocks, weather, etc.... all free and updated!
Quote Davey 26th April 2008, 05:06
You'll have to buy one on eBay now if you want to be trendy, and go free!
Quote K20 26th April 2008, 10:13
Quote:
Originally Posted by r4tch3t
When I read this, I was thinking that is such a good idea, then I read the subscription charge, stupid idea.
Ah well RIP SPOT.

Oh great, thanks for the acronym. You just reminded me of Spot the dog.
Quote DXR_13KE 26th April 2008, 12:40
they could have done these to connect to wifi....
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