SPOT Watches Hit Retail in January

Joshua · 12-18-2003, 08:15 AM

http://www.spotwatches.com/MSND_Coverage_Areas.htm

Microsoft said this week that intelligent, connected, MSN
Direct-based wristwatches (code-named Smart Personal Objects
Technology--SPOT--watches) will ship the first week of January. The
watches will debut at retail stores in Las Vegas, Nevada, during the
2004 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The Las Vegas
introduction of the watches is somewhat appropriate; Microsoft
announced the devices there a year ago at the 2003 International CES
(although the company first revealed the SPOT technology at COMDEX
Fall 2002).
SPOT watches take advantage of an unused portion of the FM band to
communicate with MSN servers and download customizable alerts for such
things as weather, traffic, sports scores, and messages from friends
and family. "This is the next generation of what the watch should be,"
Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates said during
his 2003 International CES keynote address in January. "You pick a
channel--weather, perhaps. It handles the time-zone change and sends
messages to the watch. It's been a while since watch technology has
improved."
Originally scheduled to go on sale this holiday season, the SPOT
watches were delayed a few months to fix a problem with their radio
transmitters. Watchmakers Abacus, Fossil, and Suunto will be the first
companies to offer the watches, which initially will be sold only in
the United States. Service is available in most major US and southern
Canadian metropolitan areas (testing in Europe is under way). During
the 2004 International CES, Fossil watches will be available at the
two Fossil retail locations in Las Vegas. A week later, they go on
sale nationwide. SPOT watches will cost about $175 to $300, depending
on the make and model, and users interested in the MSN Direct service
will need to subscribe for $59 a year or $9.95 a month. The watches
will offer basic functionality without the MSN Direct service,
Microsoft says.

Bires · 12-18-2003, 09:11 AM

If I were a watch wearer, that might be cool, but I think I would rather have that functionality in a PDA, so I could respond to instant messages, rather than just know that I have them...that would drive me nuts...
[cruel fate]
So and so is on and wants to talk to you...but you can't reply-because all you have is a watch! BWAH HA HA!
[/cruel fate]

bachviet · 12-18-2003, 10:06 PM

Sorry but for $300, I rather get a Movado watch.

jase71 · 12-19-2003, 05:15 PM

How long until they're beaming ads to them?

6 months after that, you'll be getting spam on them.

No thanks...

cheapchinese · 12-19-2003, 06:55 PM

sucks

are people actually dumb enough to buy from them??

ribitch · 12-20-2003, 03:53 PM

i dont trust ms enough to allow them to control my watch.

12-18-2003, 08:15 AM	#1
Joshua Rear Admiral Upper Half Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 3,390	SPOT Watches Hit Retail in January http://www.spotwatches.com/MSND_Coverage_Areas.htm Microsoft said this week that intelligent, connected, MSN Direct-based wristwatches (code-named Smart Personal Objects Technology--SPOT--watches) will ship the first week of January. The watches will debut at retail stores in Las Vegas, Nevada, during the 2004 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The Las Vegas introduction of the watches is somewhat appropriate; Microsoft announced the devices there a year ago at the 2003 International CES (although the company first revealed the SPOT technology at COMDEX Fall 2002). SPOT watches take advantage of an unused portion of the FM band to communicate with MSN servers and download customizable alerts for such things as weather, traffic, sports scores, and messages from friends and family. "This is the next generation of what the watch should be," Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates said during his 2003 International CES keynote address in January. "You pick a channel--weather, perhaps. It handles the time-zone change and sends messages to the watch. It's been a while since watch technology has improved." Originally scheduled to go on sale this holiday season, the SPOT watches were delayed a few months to fix a problem with their radio transmitters. Watchmakers Abacus, Fossil, and Suunto will be the first companies to offer the watches, which initially will be sold only in the United States. Service is available in most major US and southern Canadian metropolitan areas (testing in Europe is under way). During the 2004 International CES, Fossil watches will be available at the two Fossil retail locations in Las Vegas. A week later, they go on sale nationwide. SPOT watches will cost about $175 to $300, depending on the make and model, and users interested in the MSN Direct service will need to subscribe for $59 a year or $9.95 a month. The watches will offer basic functionality without the MSN Direct service, Microsoft says. __________________ The Apexer formerly known as SnotRocket. "Like I **ing said, "Ok, so I hear it may be a repost. Blah But I had never seen it, so..." ** you Canta." -Jenny 12/4/2003 Last edited by SnotRocket : 12-18-2003 at 08:25 AM.

12-18-2003, 09:11 AM	#2
Bires Admiral Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 5,064	If I were a watch wearer, that might be cool, but I think I would rather have that functionality in a PDA, so I could respond to instant messages, rather than just know that I have them...that would drive me nuts... [cruel fate] So and so is on and wants to talk to you...but you can't reply-because all you have is a watch! BWAH HA HA! [/cruel fate] __________________ Five years...

12-18-2003, 10:06 PM	#3
bachviet What's Da Pho*? Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: SoCal (714) Posts: 13,296	Sorry but for $300, I rather get a Movado watch. __________________ Dell Dimension 9200 \| Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (2.4GHz) \| 4x1GB DDR2 \| 256MB nVidia GeForce 8800GT Dell Studio 17 \| Intel Core i7-720QM (1.6GHz) \| 2x2GB DDR3 1066MHz \| 1GHz ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650 Intel P4-C 3.0GHz \| ECS 865PE-A \| 3x512MB PC3200 \| 128MB PNY GeForce 6600GT

12-19-2003, 05:15 PM	#4
jase71 Rear Admiral Lower Half Join Date: May 2000 Location: East of Eden Posts: 2,060	How long until they're beaming ads to them? 6 months after that, you'll be getting spam on them. No thanks... __________________ And I found that hope and a lucky card were all I had to walk with me...

12-20-2003, 03:53 PM	#6
ribitch Rear Admiral Upper Half Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Michigan Posts: 3,672	i dont trust ms enough to allow them to control my watch. __________________ http://ribitch.com/ipod.html

12-19-2003, 06:55 PM	#5
cheapchinese I love free! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: LA, California Posts: 2,998	sucks are people actually dumb enough to buy from them??

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