We've had quite a few surprises this week. Apple has pushed forward with its Apple Watch 2 (whose demand is causing delayed pre-order shipments), ASUS has emerged with its $250 premium ZenWatch 3, and Samsung surprised as always with its bold and unapologetic Gear S3 Frontier and Gear S3 Classic, but the field still remained ripe for additional Android Wear OEMs to emerge with something that would surprise us and make us pull out our wallets for 2016. Unfortunately, we were caught off-guard and knocked to our feet yesterday with the news that LG, Motorola, and Huawei aren't planning any Android Wear smartwatches for the remainder of 2016. Now, unfortunately, Microsoft will disappoint as well in this regard.
According to a Microsoft spokesperson (per ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley), Microsoft doesn't have any plans to produce a Band 3 this year and will continue to support the Band 2 for the time being:
We continue to invest and innovate in the Microsoft Health platform, which is open to all hardware and apps partners across Windows, iOS, and Android devices. We also continue to sell Microsoft Band 2 and remain deeply committed to supporting our customers and exploring the wearables space.
Foley also says that she's heard that the plans to bring Windows 10 the Band 2 have been cancelled, with Microsoft moving the porting team from the port project over to other important matters. In other words, it's a no-go for now.
Microsoft has also been rumored in recent days to be at the end of producing its Lumia phones with the moniker that once belonged to Nokia but was sold (along with Nokia's mobile division) to Microsoft back in 2013, with rumors swirling that the Redmond company may decide to emerge with a Surface phone lineup in its place to go along with its tablet collection. Microsoft may decide to do away with the Band series in order to launch a Surface Band of some sort -- but the company has said little, either way. All we know is that the Band 2 will continue to be supported, but it doesn't look as though the Band 3 will arrive this year.
Or ever, for that matter.
