Microsoft Enters Smartphone Market with Kin Phones

Strategic Insights -

Microsoft Corp, the software giant, has launched two new smartphones, the Kin One and Kin Two, aimed at the young and trendy crowd. The move marks a significant entry for the company into the growing smartphone market, where Apple Inc and Google Inc's Android phones dominate. The new phones, designed to be affordable and fun, will be sold by Verizon Wireless in the United States and Europe in the autumn.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Kin One and Kin Two are designed to be a fresh assault on the low-end smartphone market, targeting young people aged 15-25.
  • The new phones will be sold by Verizon Wireless in the United States and Europe in the autumn.
  • The Kin phones focus on combining feeds from Facebook, MySpace and Twitter onto the homescreen, and allow users to set up networks of friends to share photos, weblinks and so on.
  • Both Kin phones have a touch screen, slide-out keyboard and camera, with the Kin Two having a larger screen, keyboard, more memory, and the ability to record high-definition video.
  • The Kin phones incorporate Microsoft's Zune digital music player and FM radio.
  • The Kin Studio online application allows users to access their phone's data from any Web browser.
  • Microsoft has partnered with Sharp Corp to manufacture the Kin phones, and will sell them to Vodafone, not directly to consumers.
  • Microsoft has traditionally licensed its Windows phone software to a wide range of handset makers, but plans to work more closely with them to achieve consistency.

Statistics:

  • The Kin phones will be sold by Verizon Wireless in the United States and Europe in the autumn.
  • The Kin Two has a larger screen and keyboard, more memory, and the ability to record high-definition video.
  • The Kin phones incorporate Microsoft's Zune digital music player and FM radio.
  • Almost everything on the phone is stored by Microsoft in remote servers and accessible via the Internet from any Web browser.
  • 95 percent of Microsoft's global research and development budget is invested in the United States. (Source: Microsoft's official website)

Sources:

  • "Microsoft invests $95-bn in RD globally", CIOL News, (http://www.ciol.com/Developer/Developer/News-Reports/Microsoft-invests-95-bn-in-RD-globally/134729/0/), no date
  • "Holiday bookings through smartphone a new trend", CIOL News, (http://www.ciol.com/developer/news-reports/holiday-bookings-through-smartphone-a-new-trend/5410134249/0/), no date
  • "Loading a Maps API site in a Native Android Application", CIOL Operating System, (http://www.ciol.com/Developer/Operating-System/Feature/Loading-a-Maps-API-site-in-a-Native-Android-Application/132226/0/), no date
  • "MS brings Windows Phone 7", CIOL News, (http://www.ciol.com/Developer/Operating-System/News-Reports/MS-brings-Windows-Phone-7/131607/0/), no date