Hands-on with with new MSN Direct devices

By Digital Trends Staff January 9, 2009

Microsoft has moved on from the SPOT watch from a few years ago, taking MSN Direct and its FM radio technology for distributing on-location data from your wrist to the automobile. Now with almost 30 partner devices (granted, many of them are Garrmin), the service is expanding in interesting ways.

First up in the next few months: the Garmin 885T will be powered by MSN Direct for GPS-enabled services such as flight information, much more detailed and expansive traffic data for major cities, and real-time weather radar maps. It will be released in the next few months.

The Kenwood DNX7140, Alpine PND-K3msn, and Nextar Q4-MD will also be released soon as devices integrated with the car. Meanwhile, the Suzuki SX4 offers a cradle in the car that integrates with the electrical system in the car. And, BMW will offer a Garmin device in the X3, 3, or 1 series, and Pioneer is working with the Toyota Scion for a similar device.

Today, MSN Direct delivers traffic, weather, gas prices, movie times, news, stocks, local events, and a send to GPS feature. 70% of the US population is covered with an FM radio system that’s based on the older SPOT watch technology.

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