Microsoft unveils 'social'phones for youth market

Microsoft unveiled a new line of mobile phones called "Kin" last week aimed at young users which emphasize social networking.
The "Kin One" and "Kin Two" phones, which both feature touchscreens and slideout keyboards, are being manufactured by Japan's Sharp and will be available in the United States through carrier Verizon Wireless in May.
The Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft did not announce prices for the phones.
The US software giant has previously focused on providing Windows operating systems for mobile phones but it was closely involved with Sharp in developing the hardware for the Kin series aimed at the youth market.
"Social's part of the DNA of this phone," Derek Snyder, a product manager at Windows Mobile, said at an unveiling event for the new phones here.
The home screen of the Kin phones remains always on as the device brings together feeds from social networks such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter.
Videos, photos, text messages, Web pages and location and status updates can be shared by dragging them to a place on the phone called the "Spot."
The Kin One features a five-megapixel camera which shoots standard definition video and is smaller and more compact than the Kin Two.
The Kin Two has a larger screen and larger keyboard, more memory and an eight-megapixel higher resolution camera which can record high-definition video.
The phones are both black and the touchscreen gestures are similar to those used to operate the popular iPhone from Apple.