4 Reasons Why Microsoft’s Kin Phones Failed

Microsoft’s attempt to be hip and cool in mobile is a bust. The company has decided to stop introducing new Kin-branded phones and will scrap the device’s European launch. Instead it plans to integrate Kin into its existing Windows 7 Phone team.

But, from the start, Kin devices seemed doomed. The phones got tepid reviews and were plagued by reports of extremely poor sales. Here are four reasons why Wired thinks the Kin failed.

[playstation_clan]

it had vast amount of promotion. Or did people just look at the company (microsoft), and didnt want to take the chance of another hardware failure. Only this time it'll be worse because you have a 2 year commitment. Or maybe everyone wants a iphone and the kin just seemed like a poor mans iphone (ironic)

tsk tsk tsk, KINect is next FYI

[SOAD]

It was overpriced. It cost as much as a smart phone but was not nearly as powerful. And the current market is focused on Android v. iPhone.

[beardpapa]

Well why buy Kin when you can go on Verizon and get Buy1Get1 free android phones? I got two of my Moto droids using that deal and Verizon/Sprint keeps saturating the market with even newer cool looking droid phones.

[HolyOrangeCows]

All it did completely correctly was connect to the new social network that no one wanted.

[CernaML]

LOL

[Rampant]

If this isn't news 4 GAMERS then I don't know what is!

[NeutralGamer]

Sony fanboys wanna use every chance to show "MS Fails"...

They sure forgot about PSP Go...

[dustgavin]

And Microsoft fanboys such as you like to pretend Microsoft can do no wrong. It was a bad product and they can add it to the list of 'MS failures' along with Vista, HD-DVD add-on for 360, and the Vision camera.

[NeutralGamer]

Who said I like Microsoft?

I run Ubuntu...

Who said I like the Kin?

I have an Android phone...

Dont make your own things up...

[dustgavin]

"Sony fanboys wanna use every chance to show "MS Fails"

Yea, you sound totally neutral with that comment. Must be that you just have a thing against Sony then.

[NeutralGamer]

I have a thing against Sony Fanboys...

Are you really that stupid that you put an equation sign between Sony Fanboys and Sony?

[MNicholas]

because Microsoft has no clue how to create a compelling consumer product.

[Tony-A]

I think we can safely say heavy marketing isn't one. I seriously saw an ad for it on the internet and on TV almost every single day.

The one about ?uestlove and the other one about the ex-girlfriend were on aaaaaall the time.

I think the "Cool" thing is a Microsoft problem. They have never been the look of cool and the rise of their arch-nemesis Apple didn't help at all, either. Apparently Apple's so cool now, that they surpassed MS in finances (just barely).

They'll be okay, though. They always have Windows. 7 is my absolute favorite.

[FreeFalling]

It was ugly.

ugly ugly ugly.

[gietzy]

When will MS remember that they are primarily a PC software company? They need to look after their core business.

[mrv321]

Microsoft image problem I suppose.

Apple= Elitists
Linux= Indie
Microsoft= Just there, I'm not saying Microsoft is bad I've used their OS so many times but Ubuntu 10.04 is just for me anyway like 10X better.

[beardpapa]

Something more like

Apple = people who want it to work
Linux = geeks that know what they're doing
Microsoft = people who want OS customization and games

it's practically the same mindset with phones.
iOS = people who want the phone to work
Android = people who want to tweak and customize their phone

I'm more inclined to think that there are a bunch of elitists in both sides of the industry, as much as there are snobs in both sides as well (such as the people who brag about their alienware POS).

[mrv321]

I find Linux more customizable than XP and Vista. I don't think I know what I'm doing it's just I'm not scared if I break something, just format and restart and re-install all for free and litrally no worry or cost.

Linux works, trust me Ubuntu isn't as geeky as people might think, you barely use terminal and when you do it's simpler than installing stuff which is the only reason I use it... just copy and paste the command enter password and press y. Easy as that.

[Cherchez La Ghost]

First, this dude article is weak. He gives no in-depth details of what really happend between MS, Verizon, Allen & Lees. This is the real story right here at Engaget.

http://www.engadget.com/201...

It's a damn shame most of you just believe anything someone says to you. N4G is becoming a gossip bloggers dream site to attract hits for their blogging articles.

[bramabull80]

but its a HUGE blog with over 2.5M (2,500,000) visitors a month vs. the 1M (1,000,000)with engadget.com. Its pretty effing big.

plus I see no wrong in starting your own site. All that matters is if your news content is worthy or if it sucks.

[danielle007]

Because admittedly, they are pretty cute. Little circle, lots of green..

She returned it within a week though, you can't sort your email on it. Also, it doesn't just keep the sorting from gmail itself, and she was used to that goodness from just having a droid eris.

Long story short, she sold it back, and got a Motorola Droid.

[washingmachine]

5,design

[bramabull80]

"Kin would be a device that would make it easy to share photos, videos and access social networking feeds, promised Microsoft’s ads.

However, almost every smartphone today can do that, and at times better than the Kin"

That part cracked me up. The Microsoft Business Model: "Act like you're the first to do it, even if you're not"

[Halochampian]

what does this have to do with gaming???

[bramabull80]

we'll "mobile gaming" is part of n4g, so any platform that could be involved would be legitimate to discuss.

[theEx1Le]

wait, microsoft had a phone out?

[RobertGonz69]

Number 1 reason is because it's Microsoft. Look at the Zune an EPIC FAIL.