Kin: a billion dollars of social phone, killed in 48 days
Microsoft Kin phones discontinued 48 days after launch
One of only 20 things they have ever fully walked back.
The market's verdict: +2.3% on MSFT in the week after.
What actually happened
Microsoft unveiled the Kin ONE and Kin TWO on April 12, 2010, the output of a reported billion dollars of investment including the roughly $500 million purchase of Danger. The phones went on sale in May, priced like toys but sold with Verizon smartphone data plans like serious business, which strangled them at the register. On June 30, 2010, 48 days into retail life, Microsoft killed the line, scrapped the European launch and stopped making the hardware. Kin Studio, the pleasant web service that was the phones' best idea, went with it, and the site holding users' synced photos was deleted in January 2011. The entire lifecycle was shorter than most firmware disputes.
This one is officially acknowledged.
They did it more than once
Kin buyers got 48 days; Windows Phone 7 buyers got two years. The upgrade path was always the exit.
Links
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Context
- Wikipedia (wikipedia)
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Impact
- The Guardian (publication)
↳ caused by Kin discontinuation (June 2010)
Timeline
- Apr 12, 2010 Announced Microsoft announced it.
- Jun 30, 2010 Walked back Discontinued 48 days after retail launch; European launch scrapped.