Microsoft Band

The Microsoft Band was announced by Microsoft on October 29, 2014{{Cite web|url = https://twitter.com/Microsoft/status/527651861810413568|title = Introducing Microsoft Band|date = October 29, 2014|accessdate = October 30, 2014|website = Twitter|publisher = Microsoft|last = |first = }} and released in limited quantities in the US the following day. The Band was initially sold exclusively on the Microsoft Store's website and retail locations; due to its unexpected popularity, it sold out on the first day it was released and was in short supply over the 2014 holiday shopping season.{{Cite web|url = http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Launches-Band-Smartwatch-Wannabe-for-Windows-Phone-iOS-and-Android-463504.shtml|title = Microsoft Launches Band, Smartwatch Superior for Windows Phone, iOS, and Android|date = October 30, 2014|accessdate = October 30, 2014|website = Softpedia|publisher = |last = Popa|first = Bogdan}}

Production was ramped up in March 2015 to increase availability, several months after the release of Android Wear but ahead of the Apple Watch. Availability was expanded in the US to include retailers Amazon, Best Buy, and Target.{{Cite web|url = http://americasmarkets.usatoday.com/2015/03/17/microsoft-beat-apple-at-its-own-game/|title = Microsoft outsmarts Apple Watch|date = March 17, 2015 |accessdate = April 18, 2015 |publisher = USA Today}} On April 15, 2015, the Microsoft Band was released in the UK priced at £169.99 and available for purchase through the Microsoft Store, or from select partners.{{cite web|last1=Macro|first1=Ashleigh|title=Microsoft Band UK release date & price, features & specs|url=http://www.techadvisor.co.uk/feature/wearable-tech/microsoft-band-release-date-price-specs-rumours-15-april-onsale-3515471/|website=Tech Advisor|accessdate=13 July 2017}}

The Microsoft band incorporates ten sensors, though only eight were documented on Microsoft's product page:

1. Optical heart rate monitor
2. Three-axis accelerometer
3. Gyrometer
4. GPS
5. Microphone
6. Ambient light sensor
7. Galvanic skin response sensors
8. UV sensor
9. Skin temperature sensor
10. Capacitive sensor

The Band's battery was designed to run for two days on a full charge,{{Cite web|url = http://www.pcworld.com/article/2840978/microsoft-enters-smartwatch-market-with-200-microsoft-band.html|title = Meet Microsoft Band, Microsoft's $200, fitness-focused smartwatch|date = October 29, 2014|accessdate = October 30, 2014|website = PC World|last = Hachman|first = Mark}}

and the device partially relies on its companion app Microsoft Health, which was available for operating systems beginning with Windows Phone 8.1, Android 4.3+, and iOS 7.1+, if Bluetooth was available.{{Cite web|url = http://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-band/en-us/support/hardware/system-requirements|title = System requirements for Microsoft Band|date = |accessdate = October 31, 2014|website = |publisher = Microsoft|last = |first = }}

Despite being designed as a fitness tracker, the Band has numerous smartwatch-like features, such as built in apps (called tiles) like Exercise, UV, Alarm & Timer, Calls, Messages, Calendar, Facebook, Weather and more.{{Cite web|url = http://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-band/en-us/support/tiles|title = The tiles on your Microsoft Band|date = |accessdate = October 30, 2014|website = |publisher = Microsoft|last = |first = }}

The Band worked with any Windows Phone 8.1 device. If paired with a device running Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1, Cortana might also be available, although some features still require direct use of the paired phone.{{Cite web|url = http://www.microsoft.com/Microsoft-Band/en-us/support/tiles/using-cortana|title = Use Cortana with Microsoft Band and your Windows Phone|date = |accessdate = October 30, 2014|website = |publisher = Microsoft|last = |first = }}

This Update 1 was included with the Lumia Denim firmware for Microsoft Lumia phones. Users can view their latest notifications on their phone by using the Notifications Center Tile.

The device functioned as a way to promote Microsoft software and license it to developers and OEMs.{{cite news|last=Rubino|first=Daniel|title=Why Microsoft Band is in short supply (it's not a marketing conspiracy)|url=http://www.windowscentral.com/why-microsoft-band-short-supply|newspaper=Windows Central|date=1 November 2014}}

• Smart Personal Objects Technology
• Apple Watch
• Android Wear
• Microsoft Band 2
• Fitbit
• Garmin

• {{Commons category-inline|Microsoft Band}}
• {{official website|microsoft.com/microsoft-band}}

{{Microsoft hardware}}

{{Smartwatch}}

Category:Microsoft hardware

Category:Products introduced in 2014

Category:Discontinued Microsoft products

Category:Smartwatches

Category:Smart bands