Microsoft Kin (codenamed Project Pink) was a line of smartphones manufactured by Sharp for Microsoft. These smartphones were designed for users of social networks. Its target audience was for people aged 15 to 30 years.
History[]
In 2008, Microsoft acquired Danger, Inc., the creator of the Danger Hiptop, an early smartphone line that had also been successfully marketed as the "Sidekick" by T-Mobile. The acquisition had apparently been motivated by the rise of Apple's iPhone and Google's Android in the smartphone market. However, there were reports of difficulties in assimilating Danger's development staff into Microsoft's corporate culture under then-CEO Steve Ballmer. Despite an investment of "billions" of dollars into the Kin phones, Microsoft concluded that the May 2010 launch was a failure within six weeks.[1]
In November 2010, the two Kin phones were rebranded with an "m" after cutting prices and removing key online features. These remaining units were sold as clearance items through Verizon Wireless.[2]
Models[]
| Model | Release date | Touch screen | Camera | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Kin ONE | May 14, 2010 | 2.6-inch 320x240 | 5.0 MP |   |
| Microsoft Kin TWO | May 14, 2010 | 3.4-inch 480x320 | 8.0 MP |   |
| Microsoft Kin ONEm | November 2010 | 2.6-inch 320x240 | 5.0 MP | |
| Microsoft Kin TWOm | November 2010 | 3.4-inch 480x320 | 8.0 MP | |
Videos[]
References[]
- ↑ Dead Pink phone fallout hits Microsoft's top brass by Gavin Clarke, The Register. 2010-07-08.
- ↑ Kin ONEm and Kin TWOm back at Verizon by Vlad Savov. Engadget. 2010-11-18.
External links[]
- KIN official website (archived 2010-04-16, 2010-06-23)
- Microsoft Kin One, ONEm, Two, TWOm at GSMArena
- Microsoft Kin at Wikipedia