Microsoft, failing not to be outshined by Apple time and time again, has released information about their new social phones, the Kin One and Kin Two.

Kin One seems to be an ugly, portrait-slider clamshell design with a low-res screen. It will likely be marketed to teenagers looking for basic social functionality without an expensive data plan. Verizon seems to be the partner carrier for these phones, and may release a special social plan for them to keep costs down.

Kin One specs are as follows:

• Form factor: Vertical slide, QWERTY
• Display: 2.6″ TFT, QVGA (320 x 240), capacitive touch screen
• Camera: 5.0MP CMOS anti-shake, autofocus, dual LED flash
• Speakers: Mono
• Memory: 256MB DDR RAM, 4GB storage
• Battery: 1240 mAh
• Connectivity: EV-DO Rev A, Bluetooth 2.1 w/A2DP, Hi-speed
  USB, 802.11b/g
• Other: Assisted GPS, FM radio, accelerometer

The Kin Two seems to be a bit more of a smart phone and as such, will likely appeal to the iPhone-centred market (though by the time it is out, Apple will have released their new iPhone, and the chase will continue). Specs are as follows:

• Form Factor: Vertical slide, QWERTY
• Display: 3.4″ TFT, QVGA (480 x 320), capacitive touch screen
• Camera: 8.0MP HDR CMOS from Omnivision with anti-shake,
  autofocus, Lumi LED flash
• Speakers: Mono
• Memory: 256MB DDR RAM, 8GB storage
• Battery: 1390 mAh
• Connectivity: EV-DO Rev A, Bluetooth 2.1 w/A2DP, Hi-speed
  USB, 802.11b/g
• Other: Assisted GPS, FM radio, accelerometer

Stay tuned for more info as it arrives.