Kin One and Two are returning to Verizon completely debundled from data services

**Matt_** · 11-12-2010, 03:54 AM

(1) http://www.phonearena.com/news/Veriz...in-Two_id14607

(2) http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/11/c...zon-wait-what/

**AshG** · 11-13-2010, 08:29 AM

Any details on pricing or re-release date? My wife's phone comes up for upgrade on the 11/26 and the Kin Two is on her radar solely because of the 8MP camera.

**extremedave** · 11-17-2010, 10:36 PM

Up on the site as of right now!

Anyone have any idea how usable the browser might be? I'd love a wifi equipped phone w/o data plan.

**ak1sdr** · 11-17-2010, 10:40 PM

When we were doing our hands on training for the original Kin release, the browser seemed pretty decent if I remember correctly.

You'll have to take that with a grain of salt because we didn't get tons of time to play with them.

*looks over at the pricing on vzw.com for them*

Wow. Definitely priced to GTFO of inventory.

**extremedave** · 11-17-2010, 10:49 PM

Funny, just asked the online chat about the Kin2, they said no longer carried. I told her to check the website, as it's there now. Cool, I know more than they do.

The specs on the phone seem kinda cool but the non removeable memory is a bummer.

This is taking a while...I guess I win the "stump the VZW rep" award today.

***edit***
This is the best they could do info-wise. Also could not tell me if it would be in retail stores although it was confirmed I could keep my current plan. (not that she knew what that was...old ACII with the 4.99 minutes-only data...heh heh!)
Read an old engadget review, the interface sounds fairly poor. Dunno. Have to play with one i guess.
And I quote:

KIN TWO. KIN is a phone that keeps up with everything that's going on in your life and lets you share more of your world with the people who matter the most. KIN ONE comes equipped with 8GB internal memory, an 8MP camera w/auto-focus and video capture. The phone also offers FM Radio, Slide-out QWERTY Keyboard, as well as Wifi. The usage time on this phone is Up To 365 Minutes. What do you think of this outstanding device?

Daona: Kin ONE. With the KIN ONE, you will stay connected with the latest updates from your friends on social networks like Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace, along with your favorite websites directly on the KIN Loop home screen. This phone offers a 5.0 Megapixel with Auto Focus, dual LED Flash & Image Stabilization, FM radio as well as being Global Ready for use in over 40 countries . This phone has 4GB of internal memory with a talk time of up to 340 Minutes. The screen size is also 2.6'. Wouldn't you love to keep in touch on social networks with the KIN One?

**Matt_** · 11-18-2010, 12:40 AM

Update:
Currently the manuals at Verizon's website are the outdated manuals for the original Kin One and Kin Two.

Someone (link) at community.vzw.com posted links for the updated manuals for the Kin Onem and the Kin Twom:
Kin Onem: manual (link) ; Quick Start Guide (link)
Kin Twom: manual (link) ; Quick Start Guide (link)

Here's a caveat about the battery life about the Kin One and Kin Two from phonearena's review (link); however, maybe the battery life for the Kin Onem and Kin Twom will be different/better ?

"Microsoft intended for these KIN devices to last you a decent weekend before requiring a charge. As we had both phones set to the automatic brightness setting, we were impressed by how well the KIN ONE put up in the battery life department – after one solid day of heavy usage, its battery life was at a steady 75%. Unfortunately we can't say the same for the KIN TWO with its larger touchscreen display – which could be the culprit in its poor battery life. We managed to get a solid day in using the device extensively, but it notified us to connect it to the charger by the end of the day. The KIN ONE is rated for 210 hours of standby time while 232 hours for the KIN TWO."

**excessiveidling** · 11-18-2010, 06:42 AM

Can anyone confirm that a data plan is NOT needed for these devices? I currently have an octane and while I've not had any echo issues...the kin two looks like a nice sideways upgrade aka still a feature non smart phone but with wifi it can be a semismart phone. If it does NOT require a data plan then the kintwom may solve my 'issue' of carrying around an ipod touch to hook up to wifi hot spot and carrying my cell for phone calls. Lack of removeable memory does suck though...no apps..whoopie I'd have a web browser and sounds like it has some form of facebook integration already.

**Matt_** · 11-18-2010, 08:40 AM

A heads-up for those who want to evaluate a display model.

A phonearena.com update (link) says that the Kin One will be available in Verizon stores on December 2nd and in indirect stores on November 18th

**extremedave** · 11-18-2010, 09:10 AM

Originally Posted by excessiveidling

Can anyone confirm that a data plan is NOT needed for these devices?

Indirectly I can...I have an old ACII plan and some of the newer models state I would be required to switch plans when using the online upgrade function. The Kin2 did not have that stipulation. Also the phones with data plan required do say so online and the Kin does not. Hope that helps.
I'm in the same boat...no memory card and no calender sucks, but the wifi is attractive. Grrrr!!!!!

**Sailorcancer** · 11-18-2010, 09:49 AM

If you want to know about the data requirement you can act like you're a new customer and buy it. Just don't click the submit.

EDIT:

Just checked it out and vzw.com required me to select a smart phone data package for the Kin. Though I'm wondering if this is some kind of error. Only because they wanted me to pick both a data package and smart phone data package. You're only supposed to have one and it's based on the phone. Also for txting they had 250 messages on there twice and it's on there once for the other phones.

Something tells me you want to grab this phone over the phone instead of online. Since the online order form is pretty messed up.

**Twitty** · 11-18-2010, 11:22 PM

I just bought the phone, cause anythings better than my crappy Versa, and no data for 8.0 mp, wifi enabled dumbphone for only 49.99, Im there. Anyway, I contacted CS when ordering it, they said there was a site error. I should order the phone and call them before activation to cancel the data plan- there shouldn't be one. I don't know when I'll get it, I got FedEx overnight, CS said it should come Tuesday but I feel like it will come earlier.

Hope I didnt make a mistake. Will report to you as soon as I get it.

**Matt_** · 11-18-2010, 11:48 PM

I just saw this:

http://www.cnet.com/8301-17918_1-20023206-85.html

"In an e-mail to CNET, Verizon spokeswoman Brenda Raney said that the Kin Onem and Twom are being reintroduced as feature phones and not smartphones, so they will not require a data plan. However, you can add data packages if you wish [...]"

**Sailorcancer** · 11-19-2010, 01:28 AM

Keep us posted!

**extremedave** · 11-19-2010, 07:51 AM

Originally Posted by Twitty

I just bought the phone, cause anythings better than my crappy Versa, and no data for 8.0 mp, wifi enabled dumbphone for only 49.99, Im there. Anyway, I contacted CS when ordering it, they said there was a site error. I should order the phone and call them before activation to cancel the data plan- there shouldn't be one. I don't know when I'll get it, I got FedEx overnight, CS said it should come Tuesday but I feel like it will come earlier.

Hope I didnt make a mistake. Will report to you as soon as I get it.

Looking forward to hearing what you think. Thanks.

**latinojuan** · 11-19-2010, 12:47 PM

so i'd like to get my wife an ENv3, cuz it has a nice keyboard. however, i don't want to pay an extra data plan they MAKE you get. so, the kin twoM might be a good substitute! i mean... how bad could it be? it's go wifi, too, that's awesome. 8mp camera, 720p recording. nice. good keyboard. they won't let you have a video camera on anything w/o the data plan. this looks pretty good.

i know the Ui is kinda wonky, but is it worse than an old moto or samsung?