MSN Direct Going Offline in 2012
If you are one of the believers that the world will end in 2012, I’ve got some bad news for you, you’re wrong. 
But if you believed that your “lifetime” traffic service from MSN Direct might not actually last your lifetime– you would be right. Microsoft has announced that they will be discontinuing their MSN Direct service on January 1, 2012.
MSN Direct is most popular on many Garmin Nuvi devices, although it is found on other GPS devices as well. It provides traffic services, weather data, fuel prices, stock updates, news, and other information based on the capabilities of the device. Microsoft has given us a glimpse into why they decided to close down the service.
Leveraging unused FM radio spectrum to broadcast data represented a step forward in 2004, however, many choices today including WiFi, Cellular, FM RDS and other digital networks are now readily available and are continuing to grow in popularity. Despite good initial MSN Direct adoption, these alternatives have significantly reduced demand for MSN Direct service.
Thankfully, you’ve got a couple of years to line up an alternative.
Between this, Plays4Sure and everything else why trust any Microsoft offering anymore?
On its FAQ about the shut down of MSN Direct in 14 months from now, Microsoft recommends contacting one’s device vendor about returning the device.
People who naively adopted Microsoft as a technology partner have seen PlaysForSure, MSN Direct and HD-DVD, technologies strongly advocated by Microsoft, all abandoned.
Personally, I think any company that offers for sale a lifetime anything should not be able to discontinue it expect for the death of the purchaser or the company. In this case, Microsoft should have to declare bankruptcy or indefinitely fund the customer’s use of another service,
I recall the “fine print” of the MSN Direct Lifetime subscription said “service not guaranteed after January 1, 2012″.
Ahhh yes, what the lord Microsoft givith the fine print taketh away….
It’s highly unusual for any company to give a two year + heads up that a service is being discontinued. Kudos for the early announcement in any case.