Microsoft's SPOT Watches Run Out of Time

Another Microsoft product initiative quietly bit the dust today. MSN announced that time had run out for its SPOT Watches powered by the MSN Direct service. In a post to the online forum SPOTStop Jon Canan, MSN Direct manager, explained SPOT Watches were currently sold out and supplies would not be replenished. There are no immediate plans to launch another watch of this type, Canan wrote. However, the MSN Direct technology behind SPOT watches will live on GPS navigation systems, mobile phones, and smart appliances.

Canan explained Microsoft was moving forward with new devices to embed the MSN Direct wireless service into, and that the watches had run their course.

PC World has reviewed of few of the watches, such as this Fossil model as well as the Suunto N3, and were not impressed. PC World even called SPOT watches a not so hot technology back in 2004. It is probably not a bad thing these watches have gone the way of Microsoft Bob.

Existing SPOT Watch users will still receive MSN Direct updates, however you won't be able to configure the watch with new data channels.

CREDIT - (PC World contributor Nino Marchetti spotted this story on the death of the SPOT Watch. Here is his take on the news.)

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