Swatch Enters the SPOT Watch Race

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.spotstop.com/default.asp?newsID=85' target='_blank'>http://www.spotstop.com/default.asp?newsID=85</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Swatch has announced Paparazzi, a new MSN Direct watch that comes in four different colors. If you want a watch with personality, you're getting it with Swatch. The colors are extremely vivid and the price is right, MSRP is $150. Swatch is also debuting special content called "Swatch City" which will include local entertainment information. The Paparazzi will come in four color combinations: red with black accents, black with silver, orange with blue and blue with beige. We have a full image gallery below, each including a unique watch face. The bands are silicon, but he faces don't look large enough to house the antenna. It's likely the Paparazzi shares the same antenna deisgn as the Tissot (Swatch is the parent company of Tissot). The watches are also said to be waterproof, which the competing models at this price point are not. Another key point is that Swatch includes a two-year warranty, tied for tops in the MSN Direct category."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/174.jpg" /> <br /><br />If you're a SPOT watch fan, the news that legendary watch maker Swatch is entering the market will come as great news. SPOT Stop has an article about this news, and a <a href="http://www.spotstop.com/default.asp?newsID=83&review=Suunto+n3i+Watch">review of the Suunto n3i</a>. There were some things I liked about my SPOT watch, but ultimately it didn't do enough for me to warrant continued use. I still think SPOT technology would be awesome in a Pocket PC or Smartphone...

[Darius Wey]

Oh well, it made the front page anyway. :lol:

http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=33508&highlight=

[lonesniper]

I hope Timex get into the SPOT market. Their Ironman range is very popular and adding SPOT would make for a perfect time piece. They already have (or used to have) Skytel powered "internet" watches that received data via the paging network.

[Fabulas]

I like the watch, unfortunately there is no service in my area :( Might buy the watch anyway for coolness/geekness factor and the watch looks good. Maybe we will get the service in my area.

[PJE]

I think SPOT will only really take off if there is NO monthly charges.

I'd pay up to $200 for a nice watch but I'm not going to spend $5 per month on top for the life of the watch. A $150 watch with a $50 lifetime service contract may work also...

My 2c

[Bajan Cherry]

I still think SPOT technology would be awesome in a Pocket PC or Smartphone
Absolutely. I agree that SPOT technology will be immensely useful in a Pocket PC or smartphone. All it needs is a FM receiver. And all the intereseting content delivered on your device right away. The benefits of the push-model are just enormous.

Happy Dusserha to all from India

[Jonathan1]

*shrugs* Another useless to semi-useless gimmick to try and sell to the masses but in this case it’s a service so it’s the purchase that keeps on taking. Joy.

Thanks but I'll pass. Give me a watch that
1. I don't have to charge.
2. Doesn't have an OS.
3. Is a one-time purchase.
4. Isn't a digital representation of a real world watch face. :roll:

[Jason Dunn]

I'd pay up to $200 for a nice watch but I'm not going to spend $5 per month on top for the life of the watch. A $150 watch with a $50 lifetime service contract may work also...

But why would Microsoft offer services if they couldn't make a profit from it? Their licensing fees for the OS on the watch are probably only a few bucks...

[PJE]

But why would Microsoft offer services if they couldn't make a profit from it? Their licensing fees for the OS on the watch are probably only a few bucks...

I feel there should be a one-off fee built into the devices price up front. This would get more poeple to buy the device - especially watches which have a relatively short life (I tend to get a new watch every couple of years) and Microsoft would get multiple payments over time from replacement devices.

As it is they're charging a small number of first adopters the cost of the service rather than taking $10 off millions of possible units, with a one off fee depentant on the capabilities of the device.

[Janak Parekh]

*shrugs* Another useless to semi-useless gimmick to try and sell to the masses but in this case it’s a service so it’s the purchase that keeps on taking. Joy.
It's not that useless. I carry an n3 and it's quite handy to have, if nothing else, an instant weather-lookup when I'm dressing in the morning.

1. I don't have to charge.
I worried about this, but it's much less of a problem than I thought it would be. It takes a second to plug in, and I charge it along with my Pocket PC phone. This way, I won't have to worry about the watch dying randomly when the battery gives out. ;)

2. Doesn't have an OS.
The SPOT OS is extraordinarily stable and fast. It's not your typical Microsoft OS. The UI could use a little work, but that's a relatively small issue. Oh, and did I mention the Outlook alarms are 100% reliable? :lol:

3. Is a one-time purchase.
Well, I guess SPOT is the opposite of what you want then. :P It's a "smarter" watch. That "smart"ness is technology that's going to evolve, by definition.

4. Isn't a digital representation of a real world watch face. :roll:
Some of them are indeed bad, but others are surprisingly good. It's really neat to be able to get new watch faces. :)

--janak

[GoldKey]

Still, I would love one of these, but there is no coverage here. In fact there is not a city within 150 miles of here that has coverage. The $9.95/month is a bit high, but for $39.95/year, seems to be a pretty good deal.

[steveapp]

Wouldnt it be nice if this sort of functionallity could be embeded in an iPaq or similar .... The reciever cant be that much of a problem to incoprorate if it fits in a watch - and my 4150 already has bluetooth and wifi....

Of course im in the UK so cant get any of the service, but its a nice thought. That said the monthly charge is a bit steep, i pay less a month for my gprs data bundle and im sure i can drag down a lot more data with that.

Stephen