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KIN embargo lifts, pricing is a shocker

May 4, 2010 6:31 am by Kip Kniskern | 10 comments

Lots of news just got released about Microsoft’s new KIN phones, including pricing. Engadget has written up a long (an none too impressed) review of the new phones, and sums up the pricing in a nutshell:

The One and Two are being offered for $49.99 and $99.99 respectively after a $100 mail-in rebate… and they must be coupled with a standard Verizon smartphone plan, which clocks in at $29.99 a month. We were frankly shocked when we heard the pricing schemes (you also need a voice plan, of course, which will set you back another $49.99 monthly).

So $49 for the KIN one or $99 for the KIN 2 (after a $100 rebate), plus (with the cheapest Verizon plan at $39.99/mo, $10 cheaper than what Engadget quotes) $69.98/mo for data plus voice, and if you want to get the full Zune experience with the Zune Pass, that’s another $15/mo on top of everything else, for grand total of $84.98/mo for a phone that offers less features than almost any smartphone on the market. So much for checking out a KIN while we wait for Windows Phone 7.

Check out the review on Engadget, and the Microsoft press release.

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prjkthack
disappointing. very.
Mario Albertico
If Verizon offered some data plan at around $15, then parents would be a lot more leaning to allow this device in the hands of their kids. At $30 though…maybe not so. Only bad thing I see. Overall, there is definitely an audience for this kind of phone, but the $30 data plan may ultimately be detrimental to wide adoption when they can get the $99 iPhone at the same cost…
yeni2
Kin uploads everything… every photo, every video.
It’s going to be uploading all the time. No wonder Verizon put a massive data surcharge on it.
I think uploading everything is a bad idea. It has required the huge data plan. And the phone comes with no applications, which is a disappointment.
Paul
I dunno about lumping in Zune Pass as TCO for the KIN. Flipping that argument — say I download 60 songs a month. On iTunes with the iPhone that would be an additional $60/mo + the AT&T plan.
http://www.facebook.com/piotr.pawlik Piotr Pawlik
KIN embargo lifts, pricing is a shocker
Guest
Its Microsoft, producer of software for the iphone but not WM, no wonder they screwed it up.
JohnCz
They should have included Zune Pass with the $29/mo data plan.
- joey
  @JohnCz, ZunePass is not about data rates. Royalties must be paid to the record labels and artists.
jtmat
The prices of Verizon’s data plans did not go up after Kin 1 and 2 were released.
I’m a bit surprised that engadget and this blog would whine about data prices for devices connecting to the internet. It’s like complaining about replacement Pirelli tires for your sports car.
Far as the devices themselves, I won’t even look at them. First, I’m not on Verizon. If they do come over to Sprint, I’m still holding out for WinMob 7. My Touch Pro 2 is the best phone I’ve ever owned — without a doubt.
Microsoft should go ahead with a full Zune phone and be done with it.
http://macrosofter.wordpress.com/ quikboy
Why didn’t they just stick with T-Mobile like they did with Danger in the past? T-Mobile always has affordable rates…