The Microsoft Band originally took a conservative approach to show off Microsoft’s Health platform, and availability was scattered, at best. After steady feedback from customers Microsoft seems to have realized that they may have hit a home run in the wearables market. As a result, Microsoft has announced that the Microsoft Band will be available in more stores throughout the United States and the United Kingdom.
United States
The Microsoft Band was originally only sold in the Microsoft Store and Microsoft.com. The recent announcement states that The Band will be available for purchase from Target, Best Buy, and Amazon, beginning today. Microsoft stores are not as well spread throughout the United States as Target and Best Buy and the addition of Amazon will add a giant customer base that may have not visited Microsoft.com otherwise.
United Kingdom
The band was originally sold exclusively in the United States. Even though it was available online at Microsoft’s website, bands couldn’t be delivered to anywhere outside of the US. Now the band is expanding to the UK and is available for pre-order from Microsoft’s stores and major retail companies Amazon, Curry’s PC World, Dixons Travel, Harrods, and O2. They will official go on sale on April 15th and is estimated to cost £169.99.
Larger Supplies are coming
At times the Microsoft Band couldn’t stay on the shelves or stocked online for more than a day or in some cases a few hours. As a response to the higher than expected demand, Microsoft is planning on ramping up shipments throughout the US.
The Future of the Microsoft Band
A growing demand and a steady stream of feedback seem to have changed Microsoft’s mind on the role of their first wearable device. While their services will continue to be able to be licensed out, the Microsoft Band has clearly become more than a display device for Microsoft’s health platform. Microsoft hasn’t stated a change in their view of their product but today’s announcement seems to heavily imply that the Band is here to stay as a growing part of Microsoft’s device lineup.
Further reading: Fitness, Microsoft, Microsoft Band, UK, Wearables
