Most feature phones run some kind of apps. Usually Java ME apps. Some run BREW apps. But almost all run some form of apps that extend the functionality of the phone. Ten years ago, I bought a cheap feature phone, and added a Java instant message client. It was fun.

Now look at Kin. It has no apps at all. It’s only advantage, its cloud-based services, have mostly been disabled. This is Kin Kastrated. Want to instant message, like I did 10 years ago on a feature phone? Kin kannot do that.

Some people, in fact, Microsoft itself, blamed Verizon for Kin’s demise (there are quotes from Microsoft’s executives). Now we’ll see for sure, as Verizon puts Kin onto a feature phone kontract.

But what was Microsoft thinking, bringing back Kin? Was the sale of excess inventory worth more than the negative publicity of reminding the world about Microsoft’s biggest mobile failure, all during the first week of Windows Phone 7′s US launch? Go figure.