Microsoft Kin Takes Fifteen Minutes to Refresh Notifications

Posted 04/13/2010 at 2:13pm | by Ryan Whitwam

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Microsoft's new Kin phones are heavily integrated with social networks and Redmond's new cloud service. The story that Microsoft was really pushing  at the event was that the Kin phones will allow users to stay in touch by pulling in all their social networking notifications. But after further clarification from Microsoft, it looks like those notifications will be delayed by as much as 15 minutes.

Microsoft claims that battery life and poor API support from social networks are to blame. While we can certainly see that as a possibility, something just doesn't sit right. According to Engadget (and we agree), this could have something to do with Verizon and their 3G pricing. Big Red recently institute a $10 per month data fee for most non-smartphones. This move could be meant to get a sweeter deal from Verizon, thus keeping the Kin One and Kin Two financially in reach for teens.

Microsoft points out there is a manual refresh button to update all that social whatnot. At this point there are no other 3G restrictions we're aware of. However, these phones have passable web browsers, so perhaps Verizon still intends to limit them to a 25MB monthly cap like seen in the $10 plan. maybe these phones will even be subject to that charge, and the notification compromise was just to avoid the requirement of a full data plan.