The Microsoft Kin was killed before it could even make it to the UK and rumours this morning suggested that US sales were truly diabolical with just 503 phones flogged. Now it turns out that there might have been slightly more clamour for the Microsoft Kin but not nearly enough to get Steve Ballmer sleeping like a baby again…
The rumour reported by John Gruber at Daring Fireball that US Microsoft Kin sales amounted to just over 500 phones seems to be disproved by the Microsoft Kin Facebook app page. It’s a rather deserted place, like a virtual memorial to the ill-fated Sidekick successor, but it does show that rather more people were convinced by the Microsoft Kin. 8,810 of them in fact.
The Kin Facebook app automatically registers itself and is only available on the soon-to-be-scarce social networking phone. That means Microsoft can actually claim over 8,000 Kin sales, unless a large chunk of those are owned by ultra-loyal Microsofties keeping up the numbers.
We’re not fans of kicking gadgets when they’re down so we thought we’d better set the record straight on Kin. But it still doesn’t look good for Microsoft. It’ll need a lot of luck with Windows 7 Phone to make up for the Kin’s calamitous reception. Best not to mention the staggering iPhone 4 sales or the ongoing march of Android 2.2 Froyo either.
Let us know: do you think Microsoft can turn the corner with Windows Phone 7? Or should it call time on its phone making plans for good?
Out never | £NA | Microsoft (via Pocket Now)
