Microsoft decided to terminate the mobile product, Kin--the Microsoft-branded phone designed to target teenagers. The Kin was launched on the Verizon network in May of 2010. Verizon and Microsoft pitched the phone to teens as the "Preferred Social Media Device." Shortly thereafter Microsoft decided to cut the price of the device by half due to low demand. The Kin team will be rolled into the Windows Phone 7 team.
Verizon will continue to sell the Kin phones to reduce the current stock levels. We have also noticed that both Verizon Wireless and kin.com are running PPC ads in Google, Ask.com and other search engines. Target, we observed, is also running PPC ads to dwindle down stock on existing inventory--despite the announcement.