As part of its Smart Personal Objects Technology initiative, Microsoft Corp. unveiled MSN Direct, a new wireless service that uses FM subcarriers to send sports, stock quotes and other data to a special wristwatch made by Citizen Watch, Fossil Inc. and Finland's Suunto. Microsoft is leasing FM subcarriers from Clear Channel, Entercom and Greater Media in the U.S., and Rogers in Canada, for the service, set to start this fall in 100 U.S. markets and 13 Canadian cities.
SPOT products run a Microsoft operating system and the company's DirectBand radio technology developed with SCA Data Systems. National Semiconductor is providing the chipsets for SPOT products. The chipset includes a processor based on designs from ARM, a radio receiver and memory.
Customers will be able to choose from two pricing options: a monthly subscription rate of $9.95 per month with the first month free, or, as an introductory offer, an annual payment of $59 for a full year of service. The watches will retail for $100 to $300.