Original Image courtesy of microsoftfeed
It’s no shocker when the news hit the net yesterday that Microsoft pulled the plug on the KIN line of social phones. Verizon will continue to carry and sell the current line on KIN, but Microsoft will not be shipping them to Europe as planned in the Fall. Microsoft also stated in an email to Phonescoop that the KIN team will now be integrated into the Phone 7 team and move some of the social network aspects over to the new upcoming Windows Mobile OS.
Like most thoughts around the web most agree that the hardware wasnt the big problem, in fact I was happy to hear that the KIN innards were packing a variant of Nvidia’s Tegra chipset. Most will agree that the $75 minimum for a phone that was designed for teens to text themselves silly is just a little too steep. At that price you’re getting unlimited web but only 450 minutes and 250 text messages per month. I would have to push the blame on Verizon for that mess, but would think some changes may be made to rid themselves of warehouse stock.
In case you missed the commercials, here is a 3o second tribute. Warning, its 30 seconds of your life you can never have back. Enjoy.
On another note, I thought the theory behind the KIN line wasn’t too bad the worst I’ve ever seen, but clearly the execution fell quite a bit short. The commercials are rather annoying and I’m sure cost them a pretty penny, but the message is clear who the target market was, and that Social Networking was the reason for existence. Did they not know you can have all that (and more) with almost every other phone on the market today? This is a good thing for Microsoft, because later this year they are attempting to break back in to the mobile market with the release of Windows Phone 7 OS. They need to focus all efforts on that front instead of wasting time and resources on silly ideas like the KIN. I’m sure the EU and Verizon wont be losing any sleep either.
Goodbye KIN, you won’t be missed.
I don’t know anyone that has a KIN, but I did get to check out the hardware at a show I was at. If you have a KIN or know someone who does, then feel free to sound off in the comments. If you want a KIN, Verizon has them on the cheap for under $50 –’ and they are Buy One Get One’ right now.
Via Phonescoop
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