Microsoft Band is sold out online until early 2015

Microsoft seems to be making its first wearable device impossible to buy
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Microsoft Band, the company's GPS fitness tracker and first wearable, is taking a Christmas break, at least online. Microsoft's online store is now listing availability as 'more coming early 2015' and giving potential buyers the option to sign up for email updates. Alternatively, in the US you can check bricks and mortar Microsoft stores for stragglers.

Essential reading: What to do with your wearable data

This would be more surprising had the Band ever properly gone on sale in the first place. The wearable 'sold out' in all three sizes within two weeks of going on sale and since then Microsoft has been shipping stock here and there but never in a co-ordinated push.

In our Microsoft Band review, we criticised the chunky design and pointed out that Microsoft doesn't seem to be trying to win the hardware battle in wearable tech. Instead the $199 Band could be an early attempt to get its Health software onto more smartphones.

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If users abandon the Band, they might stick with its Health app which has RunKeeper, Jawbone and MyFitnessPal on board and is compatible with iOS and Android phones, as well as Windows Phone. In the long term, that's much more valuable to Microsoft.

Microsoft Band 2 review - read it here.

Availability issues are popping up all over the wearable tech world - from the Jawbone UP3's delayed release date to the Asus ZenWatch's disorganised launch in the UK. For tech manufacturers, the usual rules don't apply and a delay of months could mean a fresh competitor stealing the attention of early adopters.

Keep your eyes on Wareable for up-to-date stories on which wearable tech to buy and how you can actually get your hands on it.


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Sophie was Wareable's associate editor. She joined the team from Stuff magazine where she was an in-house reviewer. For three and a half years, she tested every smartphone, tablet, and robot vacuum that mattered. 

A fan of thoughtful design, innovative apps, and that Spike Jonze film, she is currently wondering how many fitness tracker reviews it will take to get her fit. Current bet: 19.

Sophie has also written for a host of sites, including Metro, the Evening Standard, the Times, the Telegraph, Little White Lies, the Press Association and the Debrief.

She now works for Wired.


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