These are the changes Redmond should make to a Microsoft Band 2.0

Great media noise has been generated these days by the launch of the Apple Watch. Meanwhile, Redmond owns its own wearable, the Microsoft Band, which has been on sale for several months now, but with low stock and very limited geographic availability.

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However, most likely, as has happened with other products in the history of Microsoft, this first version of the Band is only a kind of test of concept, intended to obtain feedback from a broader user base, and thus improve the product with with a view to a second version "

If so, it is likely that this second version of the Microsoft Band will see the light of day in the coming months, hand in hand with the launch of Windows 10, since this operating system would have support for running on wearables and similar devices.

That's why, while the current Microsoft Band is a pretty solid product, it's worth asking whatwhat improvements we'd like to seein a hypothetical second version. Here are some ideas.

An application platform

The creation of developer platforms is one of the defining traits of Microsoft throughout its history. That's why it's strange that the Band doesn't have this facet so far: it only includes a list of apps pre-defined by Redmond (training, weather, mail, Facebook, etc.) without giving the possibility of creating or installing additional ones.

It would certainly be interesting to see what the developer community could do on a device with all the sensors and potential that the Microsoft Band has , especially considering that it is one of the few smartwatches on the market that is compatible with the 3 most important mobile platforms. It is a whole world of unexplored possibilities that would undoubtedly help to gain awareness and sales for this device.

A mobile payment platform

Similar to the above. Currently, the Band only offers the possibility of using mobile payments at Starbucks, and through a QR code, not NFC, which leaves it behind other alternatives in the market.

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There are many bets that this type of transaction is the big trend that is coming>will stay below of this car."

The minimum that should be aspired to in this area is that Band 2 have NFC, and incorporate some payment platform (Microsoft Pay?) with extensive support from stores, banks, and other relevant institutions.

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The prospects would be even better if the Band 2 carried some version of Windows 10, since it is confirmed that said system will have support for technologies such as Tap to Pay>"

More attention to the design factor

There's nothing particularly wrong with the design of the Microsoft Band, but nothing particularly exciting either. There is only one style option: the sober and practical This wouldn't be a problem if we were talking about tablets or laptops, but with the Band it is, because wearables get their name from the fact that they are intended to be used as clothing accessories

There's nothing particularly wrong with the design of the Microsoft Band, but nothing particularly exciting either.

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If I&39;m going to wear a wearable on my wrist all day, I probably want to its design to match the rest of my clothes , or with different outfits. Even Apple, a company obsessed with the idea that one size fits all>"

Given that, ideally a second version of the Microsoft Band would innovate more in terms of appearance, offering different styles, exterior materials, and colors .

More internal storage to store music

The strong point of the Microsoft Band is fitness and monitoring our physical activity For this, it includes a dozen sensors (including one of ultraviolet radiation) and even offers us a personalized training application, which can guide us step by step in the routines.

All things considered, ideally the Microsoft Band would be the only device you'd need to take along when you go for a run or ride your bike , but this is not the case, since it does not have enough internal capacity to store music playlists.

I know that to some it may seem trivial and dispensable, but I would bet that there are many people who, like me, find it very difficult to perform cardio activity without the company of a motivational playlist (like A personal anecdote, I once even had to drop out of a 10K run in the middle because I lost my headphones).

Implementing this would not be too difficult. There are already other smartwatches, such as the Moto 360 or the Apple Watch, that include between 4 and 8 GB of internal space, reserving a part of it for music. And playback would work alongside wireless headphones, which only requires support for Bluetooth, something that already exists in the current version of the Band.

Best use of collected data

Another factor in which the Microsoft Band seeks to differentiate itself is in the intelligent use of the data collected with its sensors, through the engine in the Microsoft He alth cloud, which would process this information and provide us with personalized recommendations to have a better quality of life (the motto of the platform is ">.

Those who have been using the device for several months agree that there is no trace of these smart recommendations The Band is effective in collecting lots of data , minute by minute, every day, but the Microsoft He alth platform still doesn't do anything interesting with them. In this review from The Verge they express this point well:

Here, as with the application platform, the potential is huge if Microsoft does things right.

Availability in more stores and countries

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Finally we come to what has been the biggest limitation to the success of this first version of the Microsoft Band: it&39;s almost impossible to buy Maybe this is because Redmond simply doesn&39;t want to sell as many units, due to being a concept product, but clearly something that should change with the release of a new version."

A Microsoft Band 2 should be sold in at least every country where the Surface has been sold. Once there, it would be interesting if it could also be sold in Latin America and Asia Pacific.

The Microsoft Band has to be marketed as the intersection between technology and a he althy, active lifestyle.

The number of sales channels should also be expanded (as has already been done in recent months), and consider starting to offer it in stores specialized in fitness products, or as part of gym plans .If the Apple Watch is sold as the intersection of technology and fashion, the Microsoft Band must be the intersection of technology and a he althy, active lifestyle.

What do you think of these ideas? Do you agree, or would you suggest different enhancements for a second version of the Microsoft Band?