Microsoft's Moonraker smart watch was real, but ultimately cancelled

We posted some images earlier today of a Metro-themed smart watch.

It turns out the images we saw today were marketing images posted by Microsoft design employee Pei-Chi Hsieh, and now the Verge has revealed that the device was in fact not just a concept, but real enough for prototypes to be shown off at Mobile World Congress last year to a select audience.

The device was apparently created by Nokia and of course Metro-inspired, and was killed off by Microsoft after its acquisition.

The Microsoft Moonraker was expected to be launched with the Lumia 930 but was cancelled in favour of the Microsoft Band which while less general had more sensors, in particular related to fitness.

The sensors in the Moonraker would only have been used to detect arm movement, to turn the screen on when the device was raised to your face, while the Band of course has 11 advanced sensors ranging from a pulse oximeter to UV sensor.

The Microsoft Moonraker would have supported email, phone calls, messaging, and would even have worked as a phone camera remote control. Facebook and MixRadio integration was also built-in, alongside customizable watch faces and different coloured straps

At present it is not known if Microsoft intends to enter the heavily contested but small smart watch market, but the Microsoft Band and its successors may eventually gain enough functionality to make this a moot point.

See the full set of pictures for the Microsoft Moonraker here.