Microsoft to Phase Out Original Kinect for Windows in 2015

Microsoft will be finally closing doors on its original Kinect for Windows sensor this year. The Redmond-based tech giant said it would be phasing out the original sensor in order to increase the adoption of its second generation Kinect for Windows v2, which launched last year.

According to the firm, the introduction of Kinect for Windows v2 and the sensor's SDK 2.0 last year marked an end to the original motion sensor's era.

"The availability of the v2 sensor and SDK 2.0 means that we will be phasing out the sale of the original Kinect for Windows sensor in 2015," said the Kinect for Windows blog post on December 30.

Microsoft also recommended its several business customers, who have "commitments" to the three year old original sensor, to contact Redmond if they need units as soon as possible because there will be no more production after the current stock runs out.

Noting the contribution of the original Kinect for Windows sensor, Microsoft further mentioned that, "it allowed developers to create solutions that broke through the old barriers of mouse and keyboard interactions, opening up entirely new commercial experiences in multiple industries, including retail, education, healthcare, education, and manufacturing."

Microsoft released the original Kinect for Windows along with its software development kit back in February 2012, with the device coming to India in August 2012. The Kinect for Windows v2 was unveiled at Microsoft's Build 2014 event in April, followed by a global launch in July.