Windows Phone Thoughts: Are Young, Social Media-Savvy Kids Important for Windows Phone 7?

"Microsoft's engineers and executives spent two years creating a new line of smartphones with playful names that sounded like creatures straight out of "The Cat in the Hat" - Kin One and Kin Two. Stylish designs, an emphasis on flashy social-networking features and an all-out marketing blitz were meant to prove that Microsoft could build the right product at the right time for the finickiest customers - gossiping youngsters with gadget skills. But last week, less than two months after the Kins arrived in stores, Microsoft said it would kill the products."

Ashlee Vance from the NY Times has written a very pointed article about Microsoft having lost touch with targeted audiences on a number of fronts. Two particular audiences referred to are young people who Microsoft would have expected to be attracted to the Kin, and developers that are writing applications for mobile platforms. The article is a very interesting read, but overstated, in my opinion. Nevertheless, the article does make one ponder the question about the potential future success of Windows Phone 7. Will the new platform be attractive to young, social media-savvy consumers? Or, from a slightly different perspective, how important will that young market be to Windows Phone 7 success? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.