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Here Comes World's Second Android Phone
Rahul Srinivas, Dec 05, 2008 1247 hrs ISTKogan Agora is on sale now
Kogan Technologies, an Australian company with business interests mainly in Australia and New Zealand, has introduced its first Android based mobile phone, the Kogan Agora. The phone is available for international pre-order and earns the distinction of being only the second Android based handset - after the T-Mobile G1.
Kogan claims they spent a lot of time listening to feedback from customers as to what kind of a device they were looking forward to and what would be the optimal price point for them to purchase one. After receiving considerable input, they finally homed in on what we now know as the Agora. That could be the reason for the delicious price tag and the impressive spec sheet. That could also be the reason for the fact that the phone is unlocked and can be used on any GSM network around the world.
While the price and the specs might cause people to doubt the quality of the product, Koga claims it is the company's unique business model of passing on the savings earned by dealing directly with the manufacturers to its consumers that allows it to price its products considerably lower. This essentially bypasses all the intermediaries which notably adds to the cost.
The phone has a 2.5-inch resistive screen and there are two versions available now. A "scaled down" Kogan Agora that sans wi-fi, GPS and the camera differentiates it from the elder sibling, the Kogan Agora Pro.
The phone is on sale now and will be delivered worldwide starting January 29, 2009. The base version Agora is priced at 299 AUD, while the top-of-the-line Agora Pro will sell for a sweet AUD 399 - a decent price for a phone running the Android and with a decent spec sheet.
Here are some of the main specifications:
Operating System - Android
Google Mobile Functions - Google Search, Gmail, YouTube, Google Maps, Google Talk, Google Calendar
Device Control - Central Navigation Key
Keyboard - QWERTY keyboard, Keyboard backlighting
GPS - GPS navigation capability (included with Kogan Agora Pro)
Connectivity - Bluetooth" 2.0 with Enhanced Data Rate, Wi-Fi: IEEE 802.11b/g
Camera - 2.0-megapixel color camera (included with Kogan Agora Pro)
Audio - Built-in microphone and speaker, headphone jack
Video formats supported - MPEG2 H263, H264, MPEG4, AVI
Dimensions (HxWxD) - 108mm x 64mm x 14.8mm
Weight - 130g
Battery - Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery,1300 mAh
Talk Time - Up to approximately 400 minutes
Standby Time - Up to approximately 300 hours
Processor MHz - 624 MHz
Memory
ROM - 256 MB
RAM - 128 MB
microSD card expansion slot
Network
UMTS/HSDPA (850, 1900, 2100 MHz)
GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
Related Links:
Play with Android Today!
Android Comes to Motorola Phones
Android for Sony Ericsson?
A Look at the G1, T-Mobile's Android Phone
Android Security Flaw Patched
Kogan claims they spent a lot of time listening to feedback from customers as to what kind of a device they were looking forward to and what would be the optimal price point for them to purchase one. After receiving considerable input, they finally homed in on what we now know as the Agora. That could be the reason for the delicious price tag and the impressive spec sheet. That could also be the reason for the fact that the phone is unlocked and can be used on any GSM network around the world.
While the price and the specs might cause people to doubt the quality of the product, Koga claims it is the company's unique business model of passing on the savings earned by dealing directly with the manufacturers to its consumers that allows it to price its products considerably lower. This essentially bypasses all the intermediaries which notably adds to the cost.
The phone has a 2.5-inch resistive screen and there are two versions available now. A "scaled down" Kogan Agora that sans wi-fi, GPS and the camera differentiates it from the elder sibling, the Kogan Agora Pro.
The phone is on sale now and will be delivered worldwide starting January 29, 2009. The base version Agora is priced at 299 AUD, while the top-of-the-line Agora Pro will sell for a sweet AUD 399 - a decent price for a phone running the Android and with a decent spec sheet.
Here are some of the main specifications:
Operating System - Android
Google Mobile Functions - Google Search, Gmail, YouTube, Google Maps, Google Talk, Google Calendar
Device Control - Central Navigation Key
Keyboard - QWERTY keyboard, Keyboard backlighting
GPS - GPS navigation capability (included with Kogan Agora Pro)
Connectivity - Bluetooth" 2.0 with Enhanced Data Rate, Wi-Fi: IEEE 802.11b/g
Camera - 2.0-megapixel color camera (included with Kogan Agora Pro)
Audio - Built-in microphone and speaker, headphone jack
Video formats supported - MPEG2 H263, H264, MPEG4, AVI
Dimensions (HxWxD) - 108mm x 64mm x 14.8mm
Weight - 130g
Battery - Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery,1300 mAh
Talk Time - Up to approximately 400 minutes
Standby Time - Up to approximately 300 hours
Processor MHz - 624 MHz
Memory
ROM - 256 MB
RAM - 128 MB
microSD card expansion slot
Network
UMTS/HSDPA (850, 1900, 2100 MHz)
GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
Related Links:
Play with Android Today!
Android Comes to Motorola Phones
Android for Sony Ericsson?
A Look at the G1, T-Mobile's Android Phone
Android Security Flaw Patched
Related Links
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