Fossil Smart Watches

/

Have you seen the news? There is a lot of talk around Fossil's line of new connected devices called Q. My inbox, my Facebook and my Flipboard are covered in updates from Fossil and tech sites touting this new device. As the owner of a Microsoft Band and a previous owner of a FitBit, I can personally say I'm excited that Fossil took the fashion approach to make these trackers look good and still do all the cool things we've come to expect from our connected devices.

Several articles I read gave readers the impression that this is Fossil's first entrance into the smartwatch/connected device realm, which is true for this decade. However those of us in the know will remember that Fossil was a very early adopter of connected devices as early as 2003/04 with the MSN Direct watches from both Fossil and Abacus. As mobile phones became smarter in the mid-00's, Fossil even released a bluetooth enabled watch (FX6001) that received text messages on your watch along with caller ID. Sadly the watch only worked on Sony Ericsson phones from the period, but it still looks cool and occasionally it's worn.

As a techie and a watch nerd I give you 3 watches + 1 random cool one from my personal collection that I would classify as early examples of Fossil's entrance into this space. I wish nothing but the best for Q and maybe a review will be forthcoming this holiday season once the Founder is available.....wink wink nudge nudge.

Pictured below are the:

  1. Fossil Dick Tracy FX3002 watch featuring WristNet for MSN Direct. MSN Direct was a wireless service that allowed news, weather, messages and sports coming into your watch. In 2004 that was a BIG DEAL and it was $275
  2. Fossil Called ID FX6001 bluetooth watch.
  3. Abacus Smart Watch AU4004 featuring WristNet for MSN Direct. Almost the same watch as the Dick Tracy model minus all the coolness. It was marketed as Smart Watch all the way back in 2005.
  4. Abacus AU4008 Atomic Watch - not really a smart watch, but I'm fascinated with Atomic Watches and this watch uses its global reception to access the correct time from the Atomic Clocks located in Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Japan. Great for the global traveler -- I will say it didn't work in India!