World’s second Google Android gPhone launches!

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Thursday, 04 December 2008 03:19

IT Industry - Market

Kogan, the Australian company that has electronics custom manufactured in China to sell direct to Australians, has pulled off a cool scoop in the world’s second Android phone to launch and the very first in Australia, starting at AUD $299 and not locked to any network. Wow!

The world’s second Google Android gPhone is here, it’s called the Kogan “Agora”, and comes in two versions, the “standard” Agora for AUD $299, and the Kogan “Agora Pro” (click for pics) for AUD $399.

Both go on “pre-sale” from today via Kogan’s website, and are being sold outright, with no contract and no network locking, meaning they’ll work on any network you choose, with delivery on January 29, 2009.

The standard Agora features a full QWERTY keyboard, central navigation key, 2.5” touchscreen, microSD slot, and 3G connectivity.

The Agora Pro has the same form factor, but also adds a 2 MP camera, Wi-Fi, and GPS to the Agora’s impressive specifications.

Kogan Technologies founder, Ruslan Kogan, said the Agora is proof that his company is achieving its goal of offering the latest technology at the best value prices.

“The Kogan team have been working very hard to bring out the exciting new phones powered by Google’s Android operating system at the right mix of price and specifications.

“We’ve been listening to customers through our blog, http://www.kogan.com.au/blog/ and crammed in all the features we possibly could. The end result is the best value, fully-featured phone in the Australian market.

“We worked closely with manufacturers and vendors to develop drivers, software, and tweaks to make the Agora an intuitive and exciting experience for everyone.

“The design and features of the Kogan Agora makes the phone appeal to both consumers and business users.

“The Android operating system means the handset can capture and play music, photos and video, surf the web, play games, navigate, and organise your life with extremely powerful applications.”

Kogan says it “has been a long time supporter of open source and Android provides a real alternative to Apple’s proprietary operating system for the iPhone.”

Kogan continued: “Google is a key player in developing efficient and innovative online solutions for customers around the world. The open source nature of Android means the operating system will continually improve over time.”

So, what are the applications that are pre-loaded onto both Kogan Agoras, and what are the full specifications? Please read on to page 2, where you can see what the Agora looks like!