Verizon Wireless Brings Back Kin Phones

Recently, Verizon Wireless announced it is bringing the Microsoft Kin back from the abyss, only in a different form than the mobile phone's first ill-fated stint on the market.

Verizon said it will begin selling the Kin ONEm and the Kin TWOm not as smartphones, but as feature phones. The devices will still have web access and other stripped down features, but will not require a data plan.

"They provide an option for customers who liked the form factor of the previous Kin phones but want an internet-capable device that doesn't require a data plan," a Verizon said.

The Kin ONEm will be available for $19.99 with a two-year contract and $119.00 without. The Kin TWOm will cost $49.99 with a contract and $219.99 on its own.

Microsoft initially released the Kin to the smartphone market in April targeting teens and consumers in their 20s. But poor sales forced Microsoft to table the device in June and choose instead to focus on the development of Windows Phone 7.