Once again, companies (i.e., Pioneer) and consumers who chose Microsoft as a technology partner or provider are left out hanging:

MSN® Direct Service Announcement

MSN Direct service will be available only until January 1, 2012.

https://www.msndirect.com/MSNDirectServ ... ement.aspx

Microsoft recommends one contact one's navigation device vendor to inquire about returns:

FAQ

3. I just bought an MSN Direct enabled navigation device, what do I do?

MSN Direct service will continue to be available until 01/01/2012. New 12 Month subscriptions will continue to be offered through December 2010. If service beyond 01/01/2012 is a concern, please see your retailer for information on device returns.

Anyone remember PlaysForSure MP3 players and music purchased under that Microsoft system? Piece of advice: call Pioneer A.S.A.P.

Well what does my confirmation email mean???

This mail is confirmation that you successfully purchased MSN Direct Navigation Services One-time Payment on Friday, October 09, 2009. Here is a description of your purchase:

The MSN Direct Navigation Services One-time Payment Plan includes Traffic, Gas Prices, Weather, and more for a one-time payment of $99.95 + applicable taxes. Service is not transferable to a new owner if you sell the device, and may not be transferred to a different device. Service is not guaranteed beyond January 1, 2014. Your payment instrument will be charged immediately upon completion of signup. You can cancel this subscription and receive a pro-rated refund at any time during the first three years of your subscription by calling MSN Direct Customer Service at 1-866-658-7032.

This appears to be legitimate. You can check the very top of the msn direct home page:

http://www.msndirect.com/

I just called and had my service "truncated" to the January 1, 2012 date and they are sending me a refund of $129.59... of the original $129.95 I paid for the card. That makes a total of $.36 for 2 years of remaining service.

This went from good deal, to a terrible deal, to a phenomenal deal in just a few days. I did confirm with the rep on the phone that anyone that has these cards and has activated them can get the same prorated refund based on how long they've had it activated. I had mine activated for 2 days and it cost me .36.

Here is what I would suggest to anyone that may have gotten their cards from me. Activate your card right away, if you haven't already. Got to your MSN account page and make sure your correct address is updated, they will be sending you a check. Wait about 2 days. Call in "irrate" that they are going back on their word. Demand an immediate refund but be clear that you want your service to continue until at least 1/1/12. They don't speak very English very well so you'd have to deal with that. But within 6 weeks (I know that sucks), you'll get a check for virtually your entire amount paid and get to use it until 2012.... or as long as it's around... who knows how long they will actually leave it up and running. But for a near total refund, thats not too bad aye?

Let me say here, if you've purchased a card from me and have activated it, I cannot give you a refund. If the card is activated, it cannot be returned to Best Buy. You will have to go through the same motions as the rest of us and get your refund from MSN. If you have NOT activated your card, I can see about getting you a refund, however you will need to provide me the number I sent you so I can confirm that it has not been activated. At that time, I will see if I can get a refund from Best Buy. But again, not sure why you'd want to do that, as at this point it seems you can get the remaining 2 years of service virutally free if you just call MSN yourself.

BTW, to anyone that wants a virtually free subscription card, let me know. These things just turned into one hell of a deal.

If you have any concerns, just let me know.

I just called and my refund is $129.24, and I will still have service until Jan 2012.

I just called and my refund is $129.24, and I will still have service until Jan 2012.

Sweeet!

OK folks, I was going to take these back to Best Buy but is sounds like what I experienced is the same thing Garret got. Too bad it's ending, but here is your chance to get 2 years of service for next to nothing. Let me know ASAP. I don't want to hang on to these things for too long and get stuck with them. I'll probably take back what I have given out by the weekend.

Cheers, JR

At least we now know WHY MSN pulled all the lifetime membership plans. Best Buy just did not act fast enough...

I sure hope that Pioneer figures out another traffic solution before Jan 2012. This could totally kill the Z100 line...

Does anyone know of a good alternative to MSN Direct for traffic and all that?

Just yesterday I was thinking about starting a new thread and asking if anyone else was getting nervous because the lifetime subscription ended and at the same time the ND-MDT10 was showing up 'out of stock' or just disappearing from websites altogether.

I guess I know why now. And I just purchased my lifetime subscription 2 hours ago at a Best Buy. My z110 is still in the box. I think I'll just jump ship to Kenwood, but this is going to tank the resale value. No wonder Pioneer is offering rebates.

Guess I'm not sure what the big deal it. It WILL be available for the next 2 years and I'm sure in that time frame Pioneer will come up with something else to get Traffic on their unit, I'm sure. Sucks that I just paid $100 for the MSN module, but w/e. Got the subscription pretty much for free. I'm still a happy camper. Something will come along to take it's place. Sounds like MSN (aka Microsoft) f'd Pioneer on this one, huh, imagine that... I'm sure they'll fill the void.

Guys.. there is no other alternative to MSN Direct no other way to get data.. I called Pioneer to complain and I was told there would be a new unit out to replace the Z110BT... you have got to be kidding me.. The guy said new navs are to be out because technology is evolving so fast that it has a life span of 2 years... WTF Pioneer... Damn I sold my Z to get this new one and I gave up XM traffic which by the way at least gives you consistent traffic where the Direct MSN sucks... Call and complain to Pioneer... someone there should lose their jobs for this by not giving another option for traffic.

Well, I've had my current head unit for 5 years now. Which I admit is a fairly long time for this type of technology. But there is no way Pioneer is going to update the z110 with some other service. They are just going to replace it with next year's model. Which means if I stick with it, in 2 years I'll not only have to rip it back out but resale will be zero and I'll more than likely need a new ipod cable, a new satellite tuner, a new traffic tuner, possibly new steering wheel controls, etc.

When I thought it was going to be 4 years (2014), I was willing to go down this road. Now I have to rethink this.

Same thing here. I called and they refunded me 129.00 in the form of a refund check. They said it would take 4 to 6 weeks to receive the check. You don't have to beg or insist on this action. They are extending this to everyone with a lifetime subscription but you do have to call to get it. They will be canceling your subscription but they will continue to give you the service free of charge until the anniversary date of your sign up in 2012. So if you signed up in October you will receive service till 10-2012. Thanks to forum member 6605stang for this very useful info.

Same thing here. I called and they refunded me 129.00 in the form of a refund check. They said it would take 4 to 6 weeks to receive the check. You don't have to beg or insist on this action. They are extending this to everyone with a lifetime subscription but you do have to call to get it. They will be canceling your subscription but they will continue to give you the service free of charge until the anniversary date of your sign up in 2012. So if you signed up in October you will receive service till 10-2012. Thanks to forum member 6605stang for this very useful info.

I was told that service would not be available to ANYONE after Jan 2012...

People just be sure you save the conformation number they give you when you call in. If its going to take 4 to 6 weeks to receive your check, there is plenty that could go wrong in that time. Its best to have something to refer to if you never receive your refund and have to call them to inquire.

I was told that service would not be available to ANYONE after Jan 2012...

Dont know, I asked specifically if it was 01-2012 and I was told it was the anniversary date at which you signed up.

If I login to my MSN account it does say it expires 01-2012.

If I login to my MSN account it does say it expires 01-2012.

Mine too.

The question is guys... what will Pioneer do to resolve the traffic issue? How will the unit get traffic? There is no data connection for XM Traffic. Are we going to have to buy a new Nav again? If so I am not buying Pioneer.

There likely not going to do anything. There will likely be two future units released to replace this unit by the time our MSN service expires. This unit will be discontinued by this time next year and they will likely offer no support from that point. This is nothing new as most manufactures offer no support once a unit has been discontinued. We may see an update to this unit to support future options but it is highly unlikely. Maybe it is a harsh reality but that is the way it is.

I think I'll just jump ship to Kenwood, but this is going to tank the resale value. No wonder Pioneer is offering rebates.

Do you really think that will be a better solution? Kenwood has been dragging their feet on MSN and now it looks like they new this was coming long ago. Also, the DNX9140 has had quite a few problems with the software and Kenwood has indicated that there is only so much they can do with that unit but that the next unit will be better. Its up to you but I think you will enter a whole new area of problems with switching to Kenwood.

I think I'll just jump ship to Kenwood, but this is going to tank the resale value. No wonder Pioneer is offering rebates.

 

Do you really think that will be a better solution?

Honestly, I don't know. My research started and ended with the z110 after installing a D3 in wife's car a while back. I briefly considered the x910 because of the hackability. My current Kenwood is ancient. I only mentioned them because in the other forums I browse people have seemed narrowed their choice between the z110 and the 9140. I haven't really looked into alternatives. Like I said, I was out buying a lifetime subscription card earlier today. I suspected something might be up though since the ND-MDT10 is almost gone from the market.

I'm just disappointed. But I may be too deep into this purchase to pull out now. I'm always knee-deep in 3 or 4 projects with my car and I'm hesitant to install something that has such a short lifespan. I guess it's a good excuse to upgrade again though.

I'm guessing Pioneer has known about this for some time too. I'm sure they were too deep into manufacturing to do anything but keep their mouth shut and sell as many as they could.

I'm very disappointed, I was really impressed with the feature set of MSN direct. I love movies so the showtimes would have been great, along with the traffic and gas prices. I also am an active stock trader and would have liked that function as well.

From MSN Direct's website.

The delivery of location-based services in the U.S. and Canada has evolved since Microsoft began offering MSN Direct in early 2004. 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. As such, Microsoft has made the decision to focus future U.S. and Canada investments on these existing network connections and discontinue the MSN Direct services business. Microsoft will continue to explore new ways to leverage the efficiencies of FM digital broadcast in other applications and markets going forward.

Sounds like maybe they have something in the works.

I feel they should run MSN Direct/Traffic/Weather services all through Bluetooth via tethering with a mobile phone. That way your coverage is limited to where you get service with your cell phone. I've thought about this before and there is no reason that Pioneer could not release a firmware update that adds a tethering profile so that phones that support tethering can be used as a modem for the headunit. Garmin has already done similar with the latest batch of Nuvis that support tethering and bring in Google maps traffic info, weather, etc. You can even do google searches via a built in web browser. I honestly don't know why this has not been done earlier. Clarion is doing similar with their MiND MMDs. I think it is definitely in the cards for Pioneer to look to using existing cellular data plans to work as the connection to the head unit.

It is this same reason why I do not see satellite radio (as it exists today) making it another 5-10 years. With cell phones becoming faster and more robust data connectors, whats to stop some company from making a headunit that has a built an internet radio app that tunnels through a cell phone? No more signal dropouts, no more having to buy umpteen million tuners, boxes, antennas every other year. I don't see Pioneer really updating the hardware on the Z too soon. Hopefully they will keep the Z hardware the same for a few more years and just update the software instead. The Z hardware is already very capable, add a bluetooth internet connection profile to the bluetooth software and enable MSN/Google/Whatever service they can work a deal with through that. My $0.02.