Microsoft, Verizon Defend Kin's Monthly Pricing

From PC World: Microsoft's new Kin phones are not truly smartphones, but Verizon Wireless is charging users a minimum monthly $70 service fee -- $30 alone for data -- anyway, over a two-year contract.

Microsoft and Verizon representatives defended the fee on Tuesday, partly because of the Kins' automatic cloud-based backup of video, pictures and other data.

Neither phone has the ability to download applications and games -- taking it out of the realm of most smartphones -- but Microsoft said it plans to allow app downloads in a future version as services are merged with upcoming Windows Phone 7 devices.

"Over the longer term, we'll be merging [Kin and Windows Phone 7] platforms and having downloadable apps," said Greg Sullivan, senior product manager with Microsoft's mobile communications unit.

Critics have drubbed the new the new Kin phones for charging mostly younger users a $70 monthly minimum smartphone service fee over two years. Negative comments have flowed from bloggers and reviewers.

Microsoft and Verizon view the Kin Windows phones as a new category of social networking phone, somewhere between a smartphone and a high-end feature phone.

View: Article @ Source Site