Mike Peluso

Kin is valuable technology and good ideas, it was just implemented with a horrific network partner who didn't understand how to push the product properly. It just needs to be reassigned to a prepaid provider.. preferably EVERY prepaid provider, with the defining identity being associated with texting which is very important to the target demographic. By offering free (ad supported) texting and maintaining a small team for upgrades.. KIN will go from disaster to success.

The problem with the KIN isn't the design of the phone, it's that the data plan and partner are not in line with the customer base. Having many young teens on my block I can see where the KIN is the perfect phone for them as it truly meets their needs..

Unfortunately phones and plans go together very tightly and the KIN on verizon is like 1/2 of a phone because Verizon's program offerings simply doesn't click with the user base..

So what are the recomended solutions:
1st: Get the phone onto a prepaid network.. possibly Walmart's low priced solution. Too many young teens have parents who don't have regular phone plans. The unglamerous (ie, not smartphone) growth segment of the mobile phone business is prepaid, and KIN needs to be there in a big way.

2nd: Offer free texting for life and subsidize the texting service by delivering an ad with every text. That business alone should make the product profitable. Also, even when the kids don't have the money for the data plan card, they still keep their KIN with them as the texting makes the KIN invaluable.

3rd: Drive alternative revenue streams through the phone, ie, applications, music, advertising, revenue producing games, etc.. Makes sure that the points cards, and prepaid game cards are available everywhere.. every convenience store, every walmart, every streetside vendor.

4th: seed the heck out of the market by a major promotion ala, the Xbox 360 win it before you can buy it promotion. Maybe a tie in with someone like a soda manufacturer or a movie chain.. where many of the phones are seeded into the market.. what ever the product tie-in is, make sure it's something used heavily by the target market.

5th: Colors and personalization.. as the KIN market grows.. make sure there are many ways to personalize the product.. different Colors for the KIN1 is a start.. but there is much that can be done here both on the devices and the web interface.

By driving very high perceived value with ad supported Texting, having alternative revenue streams for profitabity, ubiquitous availability via a prepaid provider, and personalization the KIN can be taken from a half baked concept to a smash hit.

very cool

wow, it seems crazy that i've been reading this blog for 6 years.

msp

Imagine when prices get down to the point where you can buy an ebook reader preloaded for a comparable amount to a new hardcover or two.

i introduce my baby son to Heavy Metal.. His head already looks like he's headbanging! :)

good stuff

fantails!
msp

i forget if i commented, but if not, here it is.. if i did comment before and am disqualified, I'm a sad panda.

i don't think this is how to enter the contest, but if it is, then i'm in...