The Problems with Kin

It's clear Microsoft's Kin is not setting the world on fire, even without comparing it to the iPhone's splashy launch today.

Last week, Silicon Alley Insider floated the head-scratching rumor that Microsoft had sold only 500 of its teen-oriented Kin phones since they were launched. This is very hard to believe, so much so that I feel a little weird even making reference to the post, and decided to check it out myself at local Verizon stores.

For the record, Microsoft declined to comment when I asked about Kin sales volume.

But setting aside for a moment the question of specific numbers, it's clear the Kin is not catching on.

For starters, if I hadn't been looking for the Kin, I might not have known it was there. At each of the Verizon Wireless stores I visited, the Kin did have a dedicated area, but it was generally overshadowed by promotional areas for Android devices and other high-end phones sold by the carrier.

And once I found the section, the Kin just didn't come off very well in the stores. But more than that, the salespeople just didn't seem all that into the device.

Read more on the problem with Microsoft's Kin from TechFlash.