Microsoft allegedly shipped its Kin mobile phones in 2010, despite internal testers describing them as “duds”, according to new video reportedly leaked from the software giant.
The videos, published by Wired, show users during product testing expressing frustration at the phones, with one tester describing the device as a “piece of sh-t” and another saying “it’s frustrating; I can imagine my daughter would give this back very quickly”.
Despite the poor focus group reviews, Microsoft shipped the mobile phones, which it marketed towards younger consumers as social media devices.
Due to poor reviews, the phones were killed off after just 48 days on the market despite a high-profile launch from the company.
The news comes as Microsoft is rumoured to be looking to re-enter the mobile phone market in competition to Windows Phone 8 smartphone makers including Nokia.
Andrew Sadauskas is a former journalist at SmartCompany and a former editor of TechCompany.
