Microsoft Intros Kin 1 and Kin 2 for Verizon Wireless
Apr 12, 2010, 12:05 PM by Eric M. Zeman
updated Apr 12, 2010, 12:31 PM
In association with its new Kin platform launch, Microsoft introduced the first two handsets running the platform. Both phones are sliders that feature full QWERTY keyboards, capacitive touch screens, dedicated camera buttons, internal storage and 3G.
- Kin 1: The Kin 1 is a round, puck-shaped vertical slider that is very small and pocketable. The phone has a small screen and tight keyboard. It has a 5 megapixel camera and includes 4GB of built-in storage.
- Kin 2: The Kin 2 is a larger device that has a sideways slider, large touch screen, and full QWERTY. The Kin 2 has an 8 megapixel camera with autofocus, flash, and can capture video in HD. It has 8GB of built-in user storage.
Samsung Refreshes Galaxy S Series with S Pen, New Cameras
Samsung Refines its Foldable Phones
iPhone 14 Plus Offers a Big Screen For Less
iPhone 15 Series Goes All-In on USB-C and Dynamic Island
Motorola's new Edge+ has Dual 50 Megapixel Rear Cameras and 60 on the Front
Comments
Important question about Microsoft Kin 1 and 2
Does anybody know if these Kin's will be treated as smartphones or just a data phone where just a regular data plan will do? I hope it wont be treated like a smartphone man we have enough of those. It would be nice for something like these to be a dumbphone. Also does anybody know the price range? Thanks
This I am confused about..
If it is the next chapter in the windows mobile story.. where does that leave it when 7 drops? Yes, they say this one is social networking focused, but from the information leaking about 7, that doesn't seem really business focused either.
Maybe 2 co-current platforms? one for social networking, and the other for? social networking and more?
Maybe 2 co-current platforms? one for social networking, and the other for? social networking and more?
Then may just be trying to get in the game with different platforms for phones, they have the money to develop anything they want and maybe this is the first step.
...
I honestly think they don't really know. Look at the wonderful mashup that is Playsforsure and the Zune mess.
This one is stand-alone for sure. THe Kin lineup is squarely aimed at att phones: Motorola Kharma Qa1 and LG neon. They are cheap phones so I hope verizon realizes this and puts a low price point on them.
W7 is the next smartphone generation, I do...
(continues)
W7 is the next smartphone generation, I do...
(continues)
...
All new for 2007! (And no IM support?)
These plucky little phones remind me of those now long-forgotten Helio handsets. But it's 2010. These would make sense going to Virgin Mobile, but nobody else will even give them a look.
But seriously? No IM support? Plain and simple - fail.
Maybe it'll take off in the market for people who want pictures of dbags preloaded on their phone. 🤣
But seriously? No IM support? Plain and simple - fail.
Maybe it'll take off in the market for people who want pictures of dbags preloaded on their phone. 🤣
If that's the case.. wouldn't these "Kin" phones be glorified feature phones that require a data package?
I just don't see how they'll effectively position this compared to their WindowsPhone7.
I just don't see how they'll effectively position this compared to their WindowsPhone7.
...
What if there was an apple with a bite taken out of it, on the front of the phone? 🙄
...
Where are you guys seeing no IM support at? Did I just miss it?
...
Here's the problem....
The problem is Verizon doesn't have a good prepaid platform. It's obvious the audience they're trying to attract are the teens using the Sidekick on T-Mo.
What Verizon doesn't realize that it's not just the phone that makes it attractive. It's the affordability of the services. One of the things that makes the Sidekick very popular is that the parents can get it for their kids without any risk. They can simply pay as they go.
T-Mo's Flexpay or Get More Plus as I think they call it now allows one to obtain regular post-paid type service without a contract or credit check. This is very appealing to a parent because they don't have to perform a credit check and if the kid goes over, who cares! He/She gets disconnected, you just pay to tu...
(continues)
What Verizon doesn't realize that it's not just the phone that makes it attractive. It's the affordability of the services. One of the things that makes the Sidekick very popular is that the parents can get it for their kids without any risk. They can simply pay as they go.
T-Mo's Flexpay or Get More Plus as I think they call it now allows one to obtain regular post-paid type service without a contract or credit check. This is very appealing to a parent because they don't have to perform a credit check and if the kid goes over, who cares! He/She gets disconnected, you just pay to tu...
(continues)
Verizon's working on restructuring their prepay platforms atm though. And there are rumors for prepaid smartphones.. but really, with this device, unless they offer it with a prepaid data+messaging (and PPU voice or something) the price will be too ...
(continues)
(continues)
...
Actually they do have prepaid plans that do mirror their contract price plans.
Comedian Kin Shriner to file lawsuit
"Deytkminame!" the comedian was quoted as saying today....
Microsofts version of Flash. Interesting, if not as popular as flash.
...
Silverlight (Microsofts Flash) and Zune (Microsofts iTunes)
Enough to be interesting... Depends on if these count as "smart phones" or not... These seem to be mid range phones.
Enough to be interesting... Depends on if these count as "smart phones" or not... These seem to be mid range phones.
...
The future of Sidekick?
I wonder what this means for T-Mobile and the Sidekick line, considering Danger is owned by Microsoft. Sidekicks were made for social networking, and that line has been stagnate for a long time and could use a platform such as Kin.
Shouldn't be any change. As far as I'm aware, T-Mobile will continue to support the Sidekick line.
...
The Sidekick line was made by a company called Danger and the hardware was made by Sharp. Danger was bought by Microsoft a while back. The Kin phones are the result of that convergence. Also its worth noting both the kin1 and kin2 are being made by ...
(continues)
(continues)
Would be nice for Sprint??
I dont think they look so bad actually like. Kinda streamlined. Would be nice for Sprint The camera specs look nice.
sprint probably laughed and said give us win mo 7 not tween phones
...
I agree, but if the phone does what people want I see it selling.
...
Literraly my first thoughts when I saw these phones...
Kids will probably love em, but that is one fugly square phone.
Kids will probably love em, but that is one fugly square phone.
they can have tmo's left overs
sidekick is dead, it was designed so dumb with the cloud that was a real PITA working in a corporate store. people came in raging mad and some deaf customers were mad but i couldnt hear them over the teens and neurotic soccer moms the day everyone lost their info 🤣 , i dont have to worry about that happening with my G1, and yes i have apps for writing to sim all my contacts and backing up my apps to sd card...it's all about android
Was interested until...
Being a long time Sidekick user/fan, I was really interested in these phones until I heard that Microsoft chose Verizon as the carrier. Such an Epic Fail on M$'s choice for 2 reasons.
1: These phones are supposed to be marketed towards the young teens like the sidekick was, but with the way that Verizon rapes its customers, I can see these phones costing around $90 a month just like the droid or any other smartphone. No teen can afford that and no parent will pay that for their kid.
2: If these are the official sidekick replacements, then M$, should have stuck with T-mobile and marketed then as the Sidekick for the next generation. Sidekick has such a huge following, they could have struck gold on t-mobile. Sidekick users are not goin...
(continues)
1: These phones are supposed to be marketed towards the young teens like the sidekick was, but with the way that Verizon rapes its customers, I can see these phones costing around $90 a month just like the droid or any other smartphone. No teen can afford that and no parent will pay that for their kid.
2: If these are the official sidekick replacements, then M$, should have stuck with T-mobile and marketed then as the Sidekick for the next generation. Sidekick has such a huge following, they could have struck gold on t-mobile. Sidekick users are not goin...
(continues)
