Microsoft tries something different with Kin, future threat to Android?

iPhone and Android are one thing -- they target older, relatively technology savvy users. This is the category where the majority of smart phone users fit. What do you do for people who are younger, and really only care about making some phone calls and social networking?

Well, Project Pink -- now known as Kin -- is an attempt to woo younger generations with a feature-set that is heavy on social, and light on the extras.

Of course, as you probably guessed, I think Microsoft may find that the phone is a tough sell. I think the idea is great -- to target younger people -- but where they may see difficulty in their plans is simply around the design. The "one" looks like makeup container -- no male teen will be caught carrying one of these around.

The operating system design may pose another problem in my opinion also. It feels unstructured, and seems impossible to navigate with certainty. It's a mash of a bunch of different things that look cool, but will be challenging to use. I'd like to be proven wrong on this, as it really does look interesting, and ultra-modern.

If it does take off, and is a hit with younger people, this device may act as a bit of a walled garden -- making the choice to upgrade to Windows Phone 7 a no-brainer when it's time. Investing in younger people is a smart move for Microsoft -- as the rest of us already have biases that are hard to shake.

What do you think about Kin? Do you think it will be a success? And will this investment targeting younger people pay off in the future when they grow up and look for a more powerful phone?