Microsoft Kin Smartphone Cancelled 48 Days After Launch With Near-Zero Sales
What happened
Microsoft's Kin, a social-media-focused smartphone for teenagers, launched in May 2010 and was discontinued 48 days later. Verizon sold only a few hundred units. The phone required a full smartphone data plan but was missing core smartphone features including a third-party app store, copy-paste, and calendar.[1]
What went wrong
The Kin required an expensive smartphone data plan while offering less functionality than competitors at the same price. The target demographic — teenagers — was the demographic least able to afford those plans. The product was launched despite internal concerns and reportedly after abandoning a plan to integrate Windows Phone.[1]
Lesson learned
Pricing must match perceived value. A product aimed at budget-conscious teenagers cannot require enterprise-level data contracts. Internal project delays and management pressure to ship are warning signs, not reasons to override product readiness.