Microsoft's KIN is dead, long live Windows Phone 7

The Register ^ | 30 June 2010 | Gavin Clarke

[dayglored]

Microsoft is killing its ill-conceived KIN social network phones, just six weeks after launch. The devices were meant to usher in the next generation of smartphone.

The software giant told The Reg in a statement Wednesday that it no longer plans to launch the Kin in Europe and that it will work with US carrier Verizon to sell any remaining KINs in stock. It's been reported that just 500 KINs have been sold since US availability in May.

Those working on KIN are being moved into Microsoft's Windows 7 Phone team, to incorporate "valuable ideas and technologies from KIN into future Windows Phone releases."

That's exactly the same language Microsoft used when it killed the Zune player and turned it into an online music service – used by, you guessed it, KIN.

[dayglored]

The end of Microsoft's "social phone". Wow, that was quick.

I didn't follow its launch all that closely. But it appears that Ballmer is purging the last of Robbie Bach from the entertainment and devices group...

[dayglored]

Tech ping please?

[dayglored]

What think you guys? Good decision? I’m not sure what to think, not having really looked at it that closely.

[sthguard]

Yeah, the opening promotion (with the girl traveling around the country to meet her online friends) was interesting, but to build an entire phone around social networking seems silly to me. Facebook already has perfectly serviceable apps on all the major smartphone platforms, and there are already enough ways to share photos etc with friends.

[Yo-Yo]

This is the phone with the advertisement of a guy who was stalking his ex-girlfriend.

Loser promoting a loser phone.

Here's an even creepier Kin commercial that flopped:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CakBlWTwJK0&feature=channel

[Jeff Gordon]

I looked at the Kin. I wondered who in the hell would want something like that. Apparently, no one.

[Haiku Guy]

I saw a lot of advertising for this, and every time I thought it was the stupidest thing I had ever seen. It is amazing they launched it in the first place.

[Pushead]

They do learn from their failures - Bob gave us ‘clippie’:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_bob

Used to work tech support for Stac Electronics - funniest call I ever heard was a user saying that our product made Bob GPF...

[Richard Kimball]

It's been reported that just 500 KINs have been sold since US availability in May.

That can't be right, can it? I couldn't watch a Hulu program without seeing at least two advertisements for it. I mean, the Shamwow stunk and Vince sold millions of them by advertising.

[jaz.357]

[dayglored]

> It's been reported that just 500 KINs have been sold since US availability in May. That can't be right, can it?

I suppose. It is a rather shocking figure.

[dayglored]

> I looked at the Kin. I wondered who in the hell would want something like that. Apparently, no one.

Apparently so.

[RegulatorCountry]

They do learn from their failures - Bob gave us ‘clippie’:

Huh? That's clinging to failure, lol. That stupid paperclip is just the most condescending, crappy little animation. It reeks of early web graphics and, yes, clipart. Blech.

[chris_bdba]

All that money they have spent on just advertising and they only sold 500 in 6 weeks. That can not be good for who’s ever idea this was!

[Izzy Dunne]

That can not be good for who’s ever idea this was!

They're going to be working in the coal mines, just like North Korea's soccer team.

[library user]

Here's my workstation:

[ShadowAce]

[Izzy Dunne]

Looks like 1979...

[library user]

One of my favorite Bowie albums in the lower right...

[dayglored]

> All that money they have spent on just advertising and they only sold 500 in 6 weeks. That can not be good for who’s ever idea this was!

Look up Robbie Bach.