Smart Watches and MSN Direct service, part of Microsoft's Smart Personal Objects Technology (SPOT) initiative, allow people to conveniently and discreetly receive the information that matters most to them, with just the flick of a wrist. Smart Watches, manufactured by Fossil Inc. and Suunto, utilise MSN Direct to receive personalised content including news, weather, personal messages, calendar appointment reminders and stock quotes. The watches also feature multiple watch faces and automatic time-zone adjustment based on location. People can personalize their watch through an interactive Web site, where they choose the specific information and services they want to receive. The MSN Direct service is now available in more than 100 of the largest population centers in the United States and Canada.
"Smart Watches for MSN Direct are a fun new way to receive the information you care about, delivered conveniently to your wrist," said Bill Mitchell, founder and vice president of the SPOT initiative at Microsoft. "Our relationship with world-class watch manufacturers such as Fossil and Suunto, as well as a broad spectrum of retailers and content providers, has made this tremendous achievement possible."
MSN Direct will provide personalized information from content partners, including CBC/Radio-Canada, CinemaSource, Citysearch.com, ComStock Inc., Encarta, ESPN, MSNBC, MSN Astrology, Tele Atlas North America, The Wall Street Journal Online at WSJ.com and weather.com. In addition, subscribers to MSN Direct service can receive personal messages via MSN Messenger and calendar appointment reminders from Microsoft Outlook.
Customers can choose from two MSN Direct pricing options: a monthly subscription rate of US$9.95 per month with the first month free or an annual payment of US$59 for a full year of service
