Microsoft Corp. unveiled two cell phones on Monday that are meant for social networking-savvy teens and twenty-somethings, in an attempt to revitalize its mobile business and regain ground on iPhones and BlackBerrys.
The Kin One, with a sliding form factor reminiscent of the Palm Pre, features both a physical QWERTY keyboard and a touch screen, as well as a 5.0-megapixel camera with flash capable of shooting SD video. The Kin Two also has a sliding QWERTY keyboard and a touch screen, along with an 8.0-megapixel camera and stereo speakers. Verizon said it will start selling the Kin phones online in early May and in stores shortly thereafter. In the fall, carrier Vodafone Group PLC -- which owns Verizon Wireless in partnership with Verizon Communications Inc. -- will start selling the Kin phones in Italy, Spain, Germany and the UK Microsoft has not yet announced prices.
KIN came together through a partnership between Microsoft, Sharp, Verizon Wireless, and Vodaphone. I share this because all along Microsoft said that they wouldn’t make a phone. Technically, Sharp made it, so I guess the company can still say that they didn’t make a phone and that there’s no such thing as a Zune phone. To me, though, it’s a Microsoft phone with some Zune pieces.
Watch Video of New Phone
Launch Video Of Kin