Microsoft is confirming for us what you may have already read elsewhere: after only two short months on the market, the Microsoft Kin line has officially been killed. Here's the official statement:
"We have made the decision to focus exclusively on Windows Phone 7 and we will not ship KIN in Europe this fall as planned. Additionally, we are integrating our KIN team with the Windows Phone 7 team, incorporating valuable ideas and technologies from KIN into future Windows Phone releases. We will continue to work with Verizon in the U.S. to sell current KIN phones."
While the Kin certainly made some waves when Verizon cut the prices of the phones in half just two days ago, I figured Microsoft would give the device some time to see if it catches on. Sales for this device must have just been so dismal that it wasn't even worth it to give it a chance, which is a shame because at least I saw it having some potential.
What happens to the work done on Kin-which cost Microsoft millions-remains to be seen. I hope that the Kin team will be able to merge some of their work with what the Windows Phone 7 team is already doing so all is not lost. But to those with Kins, however few of you that may be, it may mean you're already stuck with an orphaned phone almost immediately after you bought it.
That sucks.
Here's a question for Microsoft, if you were so quick to dump the Kin, why aren't you doing the same with Zune? Hell, that thing has gone on far past the time it should have been put out of its misery. With Apple controlling just about every facet of the digital music industry, it's about time you made the right choice there.
Zune was given more than enough chances. I'd argue the Kin wasn't afforded the same luxury, and that's a crying shame.
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