It was part of the business portfolio of CBS Interactive that included BNET and ZDNet and was known for its daily coverage of the technology and energy industries.

The site was first launched by Ziff Davis on November 2, 1999[2] as an online educational service and "personal learning community" focused on the technology industry.

[3][4] After CNET Networks acquired Ziff Davis and subsidiary ZDNet in 2000,[5] SmartPlanet was relaunched in 2001 as a paid learning service for IT professionals.

[10] In June 2009, SmartPlanet was relocated to the U.S. and revamped as a business-centric publication led by ZDNet editor-in-chief Larry Dignan.

The site's occasional series called "The Future Of..." was known for featuring real-world applications of new technologies that redefine existing products or services, such as diabetic monitors, bus stops and hospitals.