Microsoft Corp. plans a new service to deliver weather, stock quotes, instant messages and other data to customers via high-tech wristwatches.
The service, MSN Direct, will cost $9.95 a month with the first month free or a year's service for $59. It will be available this fall in more than 100 North American cities, including Kansas City.
It's part of Microsoft's Smart Personal Object Technology initiative, announced last year, in which devices can receive and display information broadcast over a portion of the FM radio spectrum.
Microsoft is working on the technology while watchmakers Fossil and Suunto are developing the smart wristwatches, with many priced at $150 to $300, said Chris Schneider, SPOT program manager. Users customize the information they want sent to their watches by going to a Web site.
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