Family Life

04.13.10 | FL News Team

Microsoft is entering into the smartphone market. The software giant is launching its Kin phones, aimed at the young social networking crowd, but has not said how much the phones will cost. Apple and BlackBerry phones currently dominate that segment of the cell phone market. Verizon Wireless will sell the Kin One and the Kin Two, which will be made by Sharp. Microsoft said the phones will have a touch screen, a camera and a slide-out keyboard.

 The Kin One is smaller and the Kin Two will have more memory, a bigger screen and the ability to record video in high definition. Both will have FM radios and incorporate Microsoft's Zune digital music player. Even with those features, Microsoft said the new phones will focus on social networking websites Facebook, Twitter and MySpace -- and will allow users to combine feeds from all three. They will be available in the U.S. in next month.