KIN Spot, KIN Portal & KIN Studio: Microsoft's Project Pink All Courier Features Surprise

Microsoft™ is one of the minor players in the mobile market, or so it would seem with all the reports against them and especially the ones criticizing their tactics. In recent weeks though, it would seem that the Computing Icon is making moves to change all of that. Well, the fabled Project Pink is out, and it is, well... Odd to say the least. Microsoft has unveiled, in a new KIN ™ series of cell phones, most of what should have been released on the Courier, had it not been killed off. Yes, that is right, cell phones, not smartphones; although they make smartphones want to be like them.

What We Expected

With all the buzz and bluster about the iPad, the iPhone, Android and HTC, we might have expected something a little different. However, what we got was a pair of potentially very successful cell phones that answers a definite need in the market; controlled cell phones for kids that are better than some smartphones. No parent is unfamiliar with the bills they end up paying for their young ones' mobile activities. Microsoft seems to have heard their cries where others have not. With the release of the specifications for the KIN ONE and the KIN TWO, it is clear that Microsoft intends to conquer the market that the others have left behind.

More Surprises

Both phones have cameras to compliment the KIN Studio, which is where all your images will be archived and available for editing or publishing. KIN Studio is the online KIN Portal. That is the control part of this cell phone scheme. Microsoft has been mentioning parental control in context to other platforms such as Windows Live and the new Windows 7 operating system, so we can only assume that these will be integrated into the KIN platforms as well.

Although the KIN Studio is a good idea in general there are bigger and better surprises just waiting to be seen. The other big surprise is the inclusion of a full Zune Pass. Your kids will be able to stream all the music they want direct from their phones. The Zune Pass will work using either the 3G network or Wi-Fi service and will cost absolutely nothing. Yippee! This means there will be no more piles of very expensive (or very illegal) CD's all over the place eating up your money (and your nerves).

The Rest of the Story

However, that is not the whole story. Recently Microsoft announced that the fabled Courier Tablet was a chimera. "Sorry, no such thing" they said. Nevertheless, if you are one of those who watched the "Leaked" videos still viewable on various websites, you will be shocked to see that some of the features that where rumored to exist on the Courier Tablet will now see the light of day on the KIN ONE and KIN TWO. Do you remember the Battle Royal between Microsoft and T-Mobile? Now it would seem that the acquisition of Danger and the T-Mobile spat make more sense.

The Courier Tablet "hoax" was a little much and was deep into targeted marketing. The features themselves were very cool indeed and would have driven the sales of this platform for quite some time to come. Most parents are not about to drop a couple of hundred dollars to give their 13 year old daughter or son an iPhone, or any number of the very cool yet very expensive HTC smartphones available, but they just might take a bite out of this pie for them. It will make sense to parents and the kids will want these phones rather than the others because they seem instantly cool. Neat trick if you ask me.

Newest Information:

A Windows Mobile hacker, called Conflipper, recently revealed he hacked into the KIN's programming and found it is programmed to run on dozens of networks all over Europe and Asia, as well as on the North American carrier market. This is a significant find as Microsoft has been staunch in its assertion that it will be sticking with Verizon as its carrier. Are they hedging their bets? Are they looking for globalization? If they are then you can rest assured there will be many who would rather get their hands on a cell phone that does everything a smartphone wishes it could.

Engadget: Microsoft KIN UI Walkthrough
KIN: It's Nice to Meet You
Gizmodo: Microsoft Cancels Innovative Courier Tablet Project
PasteBin: KIN Provisioning by Conflipper