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Product Catalog > D-F > Fossil Abacus Smart Watch 2006 Classic Metal By: Microsoft, Inc.  Features: Average Rating: 5.00 Total Reviews: 1 Price: $179.00 Prices subject to change Product Description: Abacus® Smart Watch 2006 delivers the MSN® Direct content you depend on and is designed with the fashion-conscious person in mind. The Abacus includes a 12-month complimentary MSN Direct Smart Plan subscription*, as well as six new exclusive watch faces designed to fit your mood and style. Includes an AC adapter and charging cord with a unique magnetic connector. *This is a one-time-use-only subscription activation code. Subscription code only valid within the US. Subscription code must be activated by 6/30/2007. You will need a subscription to the MSN Direct service to take full advantage of all watch features. Subscribing to MSN Internet Software or MSN Dial-up is not required to access MSN Direct. MSN Direct is available to residents in the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, and Canada. To receive MSN Direct on an MSN Direct-ready device, you must be within an MSN Direct coverage area; check the current coverage maps available at http://www.direct.msn.com/about/coverage.aspx. Internet access is required for the on-line activation of your MSN Direct account. A major credit card or debit card is required. Activation and service charges will apply. Prices are subject to change. Regular charging of watch is required for use. SAFETY FIRST: Watches can be worn anywhere so use the service sensibly and safely. Synchronization may be affected by reception limitations of the FM network as well as other factors, which may affect the ability to receive FM broadcasts. Separate download required. © 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, MSN, and the MSN logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Shipping Information Returns Reviews Excellent Watch!  by: on: 10-Jun 2006 Bottom line: It finally works, and it's a gorgeous watch. Microsoft's SPOT technology project began in 2004 with the launch of a few different watch models. While only some could tolerate the appearance of the watches, many more experienced hardware difficulties with the watches. Microsoft continued the product, offering extensive customer support and trade-ins to all those who experienced any ongoing problems with their watches. In 2005, Microsoft remained quiet, and there was continued speculation that the entire MSN Direct/SPOT Watch project was going to be scrapped. In early 2006 at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), those rumors were laid to rest when brand new Fossil/Abacus prototype watches were shown by Microsoft to attendees. This watch - and the variant models of it - is the final product, and it is simply awesome. Offering all of the content available to the past watches, the new designs finally are no longer "geeky" and look like a gorgeous watch from the Fossil Blue series. Every technical issue has been addressed; this is almost a completely new product while remaining true to the original idea behind MSN Direct. If you are in the market for a new watch, I highly recommend this watch. After 5 years with a Fossil Blue watch (and a 6 month in-between experiment with the MSN Direct-Abacus AU4000), I found this as a worthy replacement. I can honestly say this watch is worth every dollar you spend on it, it looks great and provides you with all the customized content you choose from msndirect.com. To make things even better, this watch can hold double the content as the previous models (and they held quite a bit) and has even better connection reception to the Microsoft FM radio frequencies it is constantly downloading information from. Hats off to Microsoft and Fossil/Abacus for not scrapping the great idea of SPOT technology and finally delivering us a highly functional AND gorgeous watch! A+ Note: If you purchase this watch or are still thinking about it, I recommend you register at spotstop.com community message forum and post any of your feedback or questions that you may ever have. Members from the Microsoft SPOT Watch team are regular posters, and most members of the website are highly knowledgeable in regards to these watches. You'll almost always get a response. |