Microsoft Pulls Plug on Kin


Less than four months after the launch of two social networking phones, Microsoft has withdrawn the mobile devices. Dismal device sales are the main reason for dropping the Kin I and Kin II. The European launch, slated for third quarter 2010, has also been cancelled.

This is the second failed attempt by the Redmond firm to prise open the mobile phone market. In 2008 Microsoft acquired Danger Inc., the company behind Kin, to get a foot onto the lower rungs of the mobile device manufacturing ladder. Like the Zune phone, Kin did not impress. Ironically, Andy Rubin a co-founder of Danger Inc. moved on to develop and sell the Android operating system to Microsoft's key competitor - Google. Android phones have outsold Kin by a long shot and are on track to challenge the iPhone's dominant position.

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