Microsoft Kills Kin Less Than 2 Months After Release
When Microsoft launched its Kin phone in April, it was marketed to target the rising teen demographic. The price for hardware was between $50 and $100 depending on the model, but Verizon required Kin users to sign up for a pricey $70-a-month voice and data plan. Today, sources close to Microsoft are reporting Microsoft will kill the Kin and move the Kin staff into the Windows Phone 7 team. This decision is mostly based on sluggish sales even though Verizon has recently cut prices on all Kin models.
The Kin, which made its debut just two months ago at an event in San Francisco, was the result of several years of work by Microsoft and stemmed from its 2008 acquisition of Sidekick maker Danger. However, despite a few innovative features including streaming music and a Web-based companion site, the Kin phones were criticized for missing key features, such as a calendar, as well as because the monthly fees for the phone were as high as more capable smartphones, such as the iPhone and Android-based devices.
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