Kin One & Kin Two

The Kin is the very first phone that uses Microsoft’s newest mobile OS, Windows Phone 7. Although the Kin uses a slightly stripped down version, it’s still considered a new mobile operating system. The Kin One and Two are available exclusively with the Verizon network, and only costing $49.99 and $99.99 for new customers. Very affordable, but at what cost?

There are downsides to the Kin. For one, the two new phones are manufactured by Sharp. Microsoft and Sharp have a lack of ‘technical synergy’ because the Kin was being planned out and developed even before Windows Phone 7 was announced. This leads me to believe that the Kin is more of a ‘gimmick’ product than anything else. In my opinion, Sharp is attempting to profit off of the ‘hype‘ surrounding Windows Phone 7.

Never purchase a new phone based on advertisements or what the media is saying. Do some research, especially if you’re looking to sign into a one or two year contract with Verizon. Personally, I’m going to pass on the Kin. Stick with HTC as your Windows Phone manufacturer.

'Windows Phone 7 Mobile ROM Leaked' | Photo from Engadget

Ok, I don’t care what mobile carrier or model phone you have at the moment. We ALL know you’ll have a brand new mobile phone in less than two years. According to Fonebak, the largest mobile handset recycling company in the world, United States consumers upgrade their mobile phone every 18 months; and every 15 months for Europeans; and every 9 months for the Japanese (wow). Don’t lie to yourself, you love new technology.

'Global Cellular Users' | Photograph by Alamy

Ok, let us put things into perspective for you and I: the mobile consumer:

First and most importantly, it makes it a lot easier to understand why software leaks like this. It all comes down to the business processes that drives the mobile technology sector. The majority of mobile hardware (like your Nexus One, HD2, Touch Pro, etc.) are manufactured in countries with cheap labor and raw material costs. Yes, I’m referring to China.

For many people, this doesn’t seem logical. Why would Microsoft, a leading US technology company, give foreign companies privileged information about upcoming products? Well, you need to know a bit of history between Microsoft and HTC. Obviously, Microsoft is one of America’s largest technology corporations today. Now, HTC is a wealthy Chinese corporation that manufactures mobile devices for ALL mobile operating systems. Remember, Chinese business practices are much different than America’s or the EU. They don’t necessarily agree to “exclusivity contracts” which are common in the US and EU. So, for HTC to choose to endorse Microsoft’s upcoming Windows Phone 7 project… it is a big deal. HTC shows no ‘favoritism’ between WP7 and Android as long as they believe in their future success. Do you see where this going?

Anyway, back to the leakage. What happened is that somehow a .NBH (ROM update file used by HTC) was extracted from the Mondrian model. [Credible] rumors are saying that the device has the very first build version of Windows Phone 7 (or Windows Mobile 7… whatever). At any rate, do no fret or become anxious for WP7. It’s comin’.

As Americans or Europeans, this is how our global economy works (we minimize costs by outsourcing to China, maximize profits by selling to US and EU, but also maximize consumer satisfaction). In fact, this strategy ultimately drives down the retail costs to end consumers like you and me. But what happens when someone on the inside, like the Chinese manufacturers, leaks vital information about future products?

Well, for starters, people freak out. And for good reason, WP7 is close at hand.

The conclusion here is that HTC will be the first cell phone manufacturer to have the huevos to release Windows Phone 7 into the market. AT&T has has OCD in regards to the iPhone. They just renewed an exclusiviely contract with Apple until 2012. In my opinion, the corporate board of directors should be in a state of self-loathing and hang their heads in shame for this act. It’s one thing to rebuke another competitors product, but Apple and Microsoft seem to be in a state of Total War, with the main goal being majority market-share.

“We spoke with representatives from Microsoft, Lenovo, Qualcomm, TI, Nokia, nVidia, HTC and many more and they all had just one message — Windows Mobile 7 is delayed until 2011,” a story posted to BSN’s site said. “We’re now certain that we won’t be seeing Windows Mobile 7 before World Mobile Congress in Barcelona in February 2011.” [bsn]

“If they were going to slip it [past 2010], they would have let us know [but] I don’t know why they’d miss because they know that every minute they miss, they’re losing partners,” Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group. [in]

Rumor has it is that Windows Mobile 7 will debut on the HTC HD2 in November of 2010 (yes, a year from now… I’m sorry I can’t do anything about it…). Anyways, this is great news regarding the compatibility between Windows Mobile 7 and the HTC HD2. Seeing how HTC owns about 80% of the entire Smartphone marketshare, I’m happy to hear that they’re sticking with Microsoft’s platform. This also means that HTC will probably work very closely with Microsoft’s Windows Mobile 7 team, because they want their mobile operating system working on HTC’s hardware devices. Incompatibility issues between the OS and hardware is where most mobile problems are coming from these days. Well, regardless, HTC is in the Windows Mobile 7 ring FOR SURE.