Microsoft pulls plug on first venture into lucrative smartphone market
Microsoft has pulled the plug on a new generation of smartphones less than three months after it unveiled the devices in an attempt to catch-up with Apple and Google in the fast-growing mobile market.
Microsoft said it had cancelled plans to sell its “Kin” phones in Europe later this year.
The company added the internal team working on the Kin phones would be combined with the group working on Microsoft’s forthcoming Windows Phone 7 software.
The Kin phones represented software giant Microsoft’s first foray into designing its own phones.
The two Kin models featured built-in internet social networking functionality as well as Microsoft’s Zune digital music player and were aimed at savvy young phone users.
Microsoft began selling the Kin phones with Verizon Wireless in May.
Microsoft said: “We will continue to work with Verizon in the US to sell current Kin phones.”
Finnish electronics company Elcoteq, responsible for part of the phone’s production, would not comment yesterday on the impact of Microsoft’s decision.