GOOGLE ANDROID PHONE LAUNCH DELAYED
Initially due to launch pre-Christmas, the Kogan Agora is to the first locally released version of a phone running Google Android OS and will be available from Jan 29. Kogan is a small Australian consumer electronics business that sources contract manufactured products from China to sell direct to the public via its website only. Prices are higher than initially flagged, due to the plummeting exchange rate, but still pretty sharp: $299 or $399 for the Pro version with GPS, WiFi and a camera (so much extra value for just $100…).
The phone comes with the now-obligatory touch sensitive screen and will offer tightly integrated Google services:
- one-touch Google search
- YouTube player with direct uploads
- Gmail, Google Talk, Google Maps, Google Calendar etc
Initial production volumes are low – don’t expect the Kogan Agora to single-handedly revolutionise mobile internet surfing (the iPhone has been-there & done that), but it will be great to see the Android platform finally in play in Australia.
