By Several months ago we saw a rather unknown company called Verzo pop up promising a new phone called the Kinzo. They went from not having a website to launching a product pretty darn quick, and we may be more excited about their approach to the handset game than the sexy handset they’ve designed. After buying the Kinzo, which goes on sale today for $459, you become part of a closed circle who can offer direct input towards the direction of the phone’s custom software:
We have named the basic tool for communication “TellME” which fits its purpose. The TellME application is automatically offered for download to your Kinzo once you successfully complete the full registration on our web www.verzo.com. We do not require this registration to gather e-mail addresses of our clients, but simply to have a clear connection between each Kinzo and its owner and to know you at least a bit, because you are the main reason we are here. We are here for you.
If therefore you enter the serial number of your Kinzo in the registration form, you will be registered into a database of Kinzo owners once the serial number’s originality is checked. Based on this connection you will be automatically offered to update your Kinzo via the VERZO update. The TellME application is part of the first update. Once you have downloaded and installed the application, you will be able to contact us through your Kinzo or the web and share your ideas on what applications, widgets or improvements you would like to see.
Imagine you are waiting for a meeting, you have a little bit of time left and you come up with an idea, which you would like to come into reality. Open your TellME and share it! Other Kinzo users will rate your idea – no outsiders to participate with their spam. The VERZO TellME is restricted only to the VERZO family members.
They also directly give you instructions on how to install vanilla Android.
The phone itself, while not overly powered, is pretty interesting. Some of the specs include:
- 4.3-inch WVGA glass screen
- 1GHz processor
- 512MB RAM
- 5MP camera with AF/Flash
- VGA front-facing camera
- tri-band UMTS support and quad-band GSM support
- MicroSD slot
- 3.5mm headset jack
This isn’t exactly going to compete with your high end Android handsets – in fact it won’t even compete with many of the mediocre ones – but we’re wishing Kinzo the best. They’re promising a unique approach and we hope they follow through. They’re also offering free shipping and a boat load of accessories including a leather case, headphones, car charger and car holder.
Let us know if you take the plunge!
[Verzo via Engadget]
I like the shape, but it last generation specs and OS and is too bulky.
sounds like a no go in the US. also, Software feedback isn’t that big of a deal since there is always roots roms and launchers etc. from the market, i can already customize the software on my phone to my beady little hearts content, now if they were to start taking suggestions on the hardware of the next version that would be something i would look at a little closer. still, they are on the right track by proactively getting feedback in the first place.
It’s a good idea in principle, but unfortunately, their list of suggestions is going to start looking exactly like Android’s official list of suggestions.
And if Google is already struggling to bring these updates (some features (like turn by turn directions) take the power of Google’s vast server farm), then I doubt some brand new company that came out of nowhere will be able to do any better.
I really like the style of this. Gives me the same vibe of the G1 when it came out. Looks like a total geek phone and therefore fashionable lol. In my opinion it’s sexier than the new razr. I would definitely look into buying this, but since it probably will never work on verizon.. then i can’t.