Microsoft is getting into the phone-making business, just like Apple and Google. While Microsoft has always had an operating system for mobile phones, the new Kin One and Kin Two feature a brand new platform, Windows Phone 7.
The Kin One comes with a smaller, squarish display while the Kin Two resembles a traditional smartphone. Both come with mini-qwerty keyboards hidden beneath the main touchscreen display. The Kin One features a 5-megapixel camera with 4GB of built-in memory, while the Kin Two comes with an 8-megapixel camera with 8GB of memory.
Both come with 3G and HSDPA data connections, Wi-fi and Bluetooth.
The two Kin models can be categorised as smartphones, but instead of focusing on work and productivity, they are geared towards fun and play. Among the key features is full integration to sites such as Twitter and Facebook - once you log in, your friends' updates will be automatically delivered to the phone. But make sure you subscribe to an unlimited data plan, or those data charges will go through the roof.
With both Kins, you also get a media player based on Microsoft's Zune platform, together with an FM radio.
The Kins are made by Sharp and are currently only available in the US. No launch date or price has been set for Hong Kong yet - watch this space.