In a recent forum posting, Jon Canan, program manager of Microsoft MSN Direct unveiled, that the SPOT Smart Watches with MSN Direct have sold out and Microsoft/Fossil have no further plans to continue the 2006 Smart Watch series. While Microsoft plans to continue to move forward with MSN Direct and seeking out new opportunities for devices that would benefit from the MSN Direct service (like the recently released MSN Direct service for Windows Mobile smartphones or GPS devices), Microsoft has, along with its watch partners, no immediate plans to create a new version of the Smart Watch.

Well, bad news for all MSN Direct customers which liked to war Smart Watches. I had the pleasure to own a Smart Watch once, which I've used when I was in the U.S. and in general, I liked the idea. However, as mobile devices and especially smartphones evolved, I can understand that neither Microsoft nor their partners are seeing a future for these kind of devices anymore. Anyway, let us keep an eye on the MSN Direct service itself and how it develops on Windows Mobile.

Cheers ~ Arne