Microsoft unveils "social phone" Kin

SAN FRANCISCO, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Microsoft Corp. on Monday unveiled a new smart phone lineup called Kin, which features easy- to-use social networking applications and is aimed at young consumers.

Microsoft Corp. on Monday unveiled a new smart phone lineup called Kin,  which features easy- to-use social networking applications and is aimed  at young consumers. (File Photo)

At an event in San Francisco, Microsoft showcased two models of the Kin phones, which the software giant said will be exclusively available from Verizon Wireless in the United States beginning in May and from Vodafone this autumn in selected European countries.

The two models, called Kin One and Kin Two, both feature a touch screen and slide-out physical keyboard.

Touting the Kin as a new kind of "social phone," Microsoft said its new handset will have a fun and simple interface that can automatically bring together feeds from Facebook and other leading social networking services all in one place, making it easier for users to stay connected.

"Working closely with our partners, we saw an opportunity to design a mobile experience just for this social generation -- a phone that makes it easy to share your life moment to moment," Robbie Bach, president of the entertainment and devices division at Microsoft, said in a statement.

The new phones will be manufactured by Japan's Sharp Corp., Microsoft said, without revealing how much the handsets will cost.