Review: Microsoft's Kin

Microsoft decides to stop selling two kinds of Kin mobile phones. Kin's failure in the market and inability to become a major cell phone competitors are due to its major weaknesses that many users find very hard to cope with.

Kin is very expensive compared to other phones with similar functions. Kin phone, strictly speaking, is not a smart phone. However, the prices of the monthly plans for Kin are very similar, if not exceeding, those of other smart phones. The 2.7 inch screen Kin One was sold through Verizon Wireless. Consumers originally need to pay 50 dollar for a two years contract. While the 3.5 inch Kin Two requires 100 dollar monthly. Verizon finally lowered the prices to 30 dollar and 50 dollar respectively.

The new pricings look pretty good. Yet it is not so because consumers still need to pay a minimum of 70 dollar data transfer fee. This is a very big burden for consumers actually in the bad economy. If Microsoft does not require this fee Kin might have survived.

Also, the Kin OS operating system causes confusion to the consumers. Microsoft uses all kinds of resources to support and strengthen Windows Mobile. It seems like Microsoft is ready to introduce Windows Phone 7 by Christmas. Yet surprisingly, Microsoft introduces the brand new mobile phone operating system, Kin OS. Even though Microsoft claims that Kin OS is different from Windows Phone 7, apparently Kin OS causes a lot of confusion to the consumers.

Kin also does not support applications and games. Kin mobile phones, though needs data transfer fees, does not have functions that are comparable to those of iPhone and other smart phones. Kin does have web browser that allow web surfing. But Kin does not support applications and games. So consumers are paying fees of smart phones for a commonplace cell phone.

Lastly, even though Kin cell phone bravely enters the fierce competition of the cell phone market, it does not appeal to consumers at all. Consumers are not willing to give up other cell phones for Kin because of Kin's lack of functions and its inability to create waves in the market. Microsoft claims in its commercials that Kin can easily share pictures and videos and webs. It is not appealing because all smart phones can do these. Moreover, Kin disappoints Twitter users at the beginning and then later Facebook users. With Microsoft's lack of sales, Kin's doom is not surprising.