DirectBand

DirectBand was a North American wireless datacast network owned and operated by Microsoft.

Since many DirectBand uses were mobile, and there was no opportunity to request retransmission of a broadcast signal, DirectBand utilized an advanced error-correction strategy that allowed for reconstruction of messages even when sizable portions of the message were lost due to buildings, tunnels or other obstructions of the FM signal.

Recently, several other applications have surfaced, the most visible being the traffic data/local info market, particularly to auto GPS sets for Garmin and Avis.

This competes directly with older RDS-based services, which operate at a substantially lower data rate.

[1] MSN Direct is the consumer brand that Microsoft uses for devices that receive content from the DirectBand network.