Utilizing the revolutionary new SPOT (Smart Personal Object Technology) system and FM radio waves, the Suunto n3 lets you stay connected to the world, continually receiving a variety of useful info, right onto your wrist!
You can custom-program the Suunto n3 to receive updates on weather, news, sports, and stocks. Those functions alone are pretty impressive, but there's more. You can also receive Instant Messages from family and friends on your contact list. And it's easy to keep track of your appointments while you are out of the office; software included will synch your watch with your Microsoft Outlook, so you can access your appointment calendar from anywhere. Furthermore, Microsoft is steadily updating their MSN Direct service, adding new content and features regularly. Note that you can sign two watches up on the same MSN Direct subscription; get one watch for your yourself, one for a loved one, and share a subscription!
When I first got my Suunto n3 , I thought that it would be a nightmare to figure out, and I anticipated spending hours reading the manual. However, in just a day or two I felt like I had more or less mastered it, and I actually never even read the manual at all. The menus were easy to navigate, and simple to figure out intuitively. Choosing what content I wanted to receive on the MSN website was surprisingly fast and easy, and even synchronizing my Outlook calendar turned out to be a painless five minute operation. I've been going three or four days between charges without even getting a low battery indicator, even with steady use of the various features and the backlight (which, I might add, is impressively bright). My only complaints so far are that the band is a tad stiff (I suppose this is the price we pay for durability), and I wish the news story briefs could be a little bit longer.
I've found myself checking my Suunto n3 continually for breaking news stories and the like. Stories often appear on it hours before they land on the online news websites; as a result, I increasingly find myself being the first place that my friends hear about critical events, which is kind of neat. It's also been handy knowing the outside temp while I'm rushing around trying to get dressed in the morning, and the appointment reminder alarm has already saved me from disaster once. All in all, I'd say that the n3 is no mere high-tech gimmick or novelty: this watch is a genuinely useful device.
Subscription service is required.* Instructions for sign up will be included with your watch.
Please use this link to make sure you will have coverage in your area.
http://direct.msn.com/about/coverage.aspx *You will need a subscription to the MSN Direct service to take full advantage of all watch features. 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 www.msndirect.com. Internet access is required for the on-line activation of your MSN Direct account. A major credit 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. Microsoft, MSN and The MSN logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and for other countries.
Direct Service Plans
The Suunto n3i comes out of the box automatically receiving content as soon as you turn it on:
national news headlines
local temperature information
stock indices
Further content must be subscribed to. Currently, Microsoft offers 3 service plans:
Smart Plan
For $39.95 per year, subscribers can receive news, entertainment content, local movie listings, horoscopes and sports updates, weather forecasts, and personalized stock and lottery information.
Smart Plan Plus
For an additional $20 per year, customers can upgrade their service to include instant messages and Outlook calendar appointments.
Monthly Plan
For customers who prefer it, Smart Plan Plus charges can be broken into monthly payments of $9.95.
