Originally slated to launch at Comdex next week, the SPOT watch designed by Microsoft Corp. and its partners has been delayed until the first quarter of 2004 to accommodate further testing.
Executives at Citizen Watch Co., one of the companies slated to manufacture SPOT watches, also said Friday that they may pull out of the partnership and not ship a SPOT watch at all.
The watches were originally supposed to ship this fall, according to a speech made by Microsoft's chief software architect, Bill Gates, at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this past January. Partners, including Citizen, Fossil Inc. and Suunto – said they were working with Microsoft to develop and commercialize the new technology.
For Microsoft, the SPOT watches represent another foray by Microsoft into the consumer space, a market that traditional PC companies like Dell Computer and Gateway have also encroached upon. Other future Microsoft-branded devices may also use the SPOT technology, including items like high-tech refrigerator magnets.
News source: ExtremeTech
-1 Comments - Add comment