It won't be available until early '09 and will cost $299

The second phone in the world to use Google's Android mobile OS

The Agora is a 3G mobile with a touchscreen, QWERTY keyboard, and microSD card slot. A "Pro" model with Wi-Fi, a 2 megapixel camera and GPS costs an extra $100.

http://www.kogan.com.au/

http://www.kogan.com.au/media/thumbs/products/2008/12/MAIN_copy_copy_jpg_400x300_q90.jpg

I like how its side by side with something on their site that says: "As reported by Sydney Morning Herald and The Age (as well as Gizmodo,SmartCompany, and others), we're going to have a Kogan Google Android phone available by Christmas"

Haha yeah, and also that it will only be $199.

Who is Kogan? Never heard of them... they don't even have a wikipedia page.

They are a melbourne base "electrical manufacturer". They import cheap ass LCDs from asia and rebadge them. They have appeared on "today tonight" and various shows hailed as making electronics cheaper. Not really true when with a little bit of haggling I can get a brand name TV with better specs cheaper. They just have a lower RRP than the big brands.

specs:

The Agora:

* 2.5-inch TFT-LCD flat touch-sensitive screen.
* Integrated QWERTY keyboard.
* High-speed 3G network connection.
* One-Touch Google Search ™.
* Easy Web Browsing.
* Easy-to-use email with attachment support for images, videos, music and documents.
* Customisable Home Screen with instant Email, text message and IM notifications.
* Instant access to mobile Internet services (Gmail ™, YouTube ™, Google Talk ™, Google Calendar ™, Google Maps ™).
* Music Player.
* Bluetooth® 2.0 with Enhanced Data Rate
* microSD™ expansion slot for all your storage needs.

The Agora Pro:

* 2.5-inch TFT-LCD flat touch-sensitive screen.
* Integrated QWERTY keyboard.
* High-speed 3G network connection.
* One-Touch Google Search ™.
* Easy Web Browsing.
* Easy-to-use email with attachment support for images, videos, music and documents.
* Customisable Home Screen with instant Email, text message and IM notifications.
* Instant access to mobile Internet services (Gmail ™, YouTube ™, Google Talk ™, Google Calendar ™, Google Maps ™).
* Music Player.
* Bluetooth® 2.0 with Enhanced Data Rate
* microSD™ expansion slot for all your storage needs.
* Wi-Fi network access.
* GPS navigation capability.
* 2.0 megapixel camera.


Intrigued. Don't really want a cheap nasty Made in Taiwaner, but I'm pretty keen to get my hands on an Android phone. Will definitely check it out if I can find it at a local retailer to have a play with. Do any retailers stock this Kogan stuff generally?

Hang on though, is that $299 a retail price, or is it just more bulls*** like the $200 iphone. ie: if you sign a 24 month contract with a provider that will end up costing you well over $1000 ?

If the former, I'd be interested in checking it out. if the later... lol.

It's outright price Dan

Trog... Who do you think makes the other brand's handsets? O2, iMate etc.

Where do you think HTC came from?

Its the former, that's kinda the whole point of Android - the software is free so you only pay for the hardware. And they didn't jump into bed with telco's

um... the G1 is BRANDED as a T-Mobile phone. What do you mean they didn't jump into bed with telco's?

Oh, and how many phones have you bought where you had to pay for the software separately to the hardware?

Trog... Who do you think makes the other brand's handsets? O2, iMate etc.

Where do you think HTC came from?

your mother?

all those other handsets feel like cheap s*** too. The iPhone, as much as I think it is evil, actually feels like a nice, well constructed, well designed piece of hardware.

And who makes the iPhone?

Spoiler:
Quanta and Foxconn - two of the biggest OEM's in the world... Chinese companies


last edited by mongie at 17:22:49 04/Dec/08

it means you can go out and buy an Agora and put any sim in it you want

And who makes the iPhone?

cmon, the iPhone is clearly made to different standards than anything else, at least as far as its industrial design goes. It's a function of both the Apple design (this is probably the primary though) and the no-doubt high standards Apple put on build quality.

Care to who have a guess at who makes 90% of the laptops on the market? A lot of them are good quality too, but a lot of them are also s***.

Yep... Quanta

Its customers include ACER, Alienware, Apple Inc., Cisco, Compaq, Dell, Fujitsu, Gateway, Gericom, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo, Maxdata, MPC, Sharp Corporation, Siemens AG, Sony, Sun Microsystems, and Toshiba.

last edited by mongie at 17:25:52 04/Dec/08

I'm not sure what your point is - I know those companies can make good, decent quality stuff when they actually try. I'm just saying most of the stuff that comes out of there that is clearly mass-produced low price shlock typically looks and feels like cheap electronics. I'd happily drop another $100 on something like that for build quality that actually felt like it was going to last a bit longer.

um... the G1 is BRANDED as a T-Mobile phone. What do you mean they didn't jump into bed with telco's?

Oh, and how many phones have you bought where you had to pay for the software separately to the hardware?

missing your point here to, T-Mobile IS a telco... Kogan are just electronic vendors?

And you pay for most Mobile software. Look at symbian the bottom line is low but then you pay for every damn app.

Its the former, that's kinda the whole point of Android - the software is free so you only pay for the hardware. And they didn't jump into bed with telco's

Sounds like you're saying that "they" - Android - didn't jump into bed with telco's - and yet, its branded as a phone made by a telco.

Its the former, that's kinda the whole point of Android - the software is free so you only pay for the hardware. And they didn't jump into bed with telco's

Sounds like you're saying that "they" - Android - didn't jump into bed with telco's - and yet, its branded as a phone made by a telco.

Android, the OS and software system, is telco-agnostic. The G1, the Google Phone, is (in the USA, anyway), a telco-specific thing. Can we move on?!

My point is trog... A lot of the hardware OEM's are actually producing quality handsets (for the price anyway) and since they don't develop the software, if this thing has some decent specs, it could be a good little phone.

My point is trog... A lot of the hardware OEM's are actually producing quality handsets (for the price anyway) and since they don't develop the software, if this thing has some decent specs, it could be a good little phone.

Yeh, it could, but I'm not going to order one without checking it out IRL first!

Agreed the OS has so much damn potential but the biggest killer is a phone that runs chunky. Main reason i keep going back to Nokia's - that being said i haven't tried any other phones for the last year or so.

I like how the post is on Nov 3rd with the newspaper reporting sales by Dec 15th. In six weeks he's going to go from knowing nothing about the phone to selling the phone, including importing, etc? Seems like a mighty short timeline.

**EDIT** K, I read later posts.

Is it just me or does this guy's business plan seem dodgier than ABC childcare?

I am very interested in getting an Android phone when my contract finishes in a few months. As interesting as the specs look for this phone, the price seems somewhat too good to be true. Hopefully someone will review it.

Interesting. Looks like a Blackberry knockoff running Android.. not that thats a bad thing, I need to eventually retire my 6 yrs old siemens phones and I'm still can't decide whether to go with the iphone, blackberry bold or something running android. I'm essentially holding off until I can actually play with an android OS (on a phone, not the simulation). I prefer the big ass slide out screen design with the keyboard underneath (like the T-Mobile model) to what Kogan are putting out with Android but am still keen to have a play with it. Hopefully some retail store out there will stock it and give punters the chance to try before buying.

Can I see these Kogan products at a shop somewhere?

/me hugs my iphone and sends thanks to the jailbreak guru's who have made it so much better.

Just read in the slashdot thread about this that the hardware design isn't final for this (apparently it says it on the kogan website somewhere), so its possible it will look a little bit different. I guess they were really keen to get the PR out that they were going to be the 2nd Android phone!@

Anyone who's going to order it, put in KGNBUCK as a coupon code. Gives a 5% discount.

also noted that nokia has an n97 coming out next year with qwerty keyboard.

picture?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01124/nokian97_1124887c.jpg

Nokia N97 press release is a bit light on details - I guess it runs Symbian?

More N97 info:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10114011-94.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20

http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/04/nokia-n97-hands-on-part-ii-the-reckoning/

If only Nokia would stop using S60...

I'd buy the N97 in a heartbeat if I could install Android or something on it. Symbian's okay, but I'd much rather something else.

I'm going to wait for the Sony Xperia X1 (aka the Sexperia)

http://www.sonyericsson.com/x1/

Bumping this thread because it's 00 and I've heard nothing about this phone.

bump for another one wanting more info bout this phone. on paper it looks fantastic, and I'm itching to get my hands on one, but the skeptic in me, is wanting to see first hand irl before buying.

If this thing runs smoothly, I'd be very interested. The clunky, overpriced OS offerings on the market now can be somewhat infuriating at times. A smart phone with touch screen, camera, GPS and WiFi for $399? It sounds too good to be true. I wonder how good the touch screen is though. The M600 has a hella awesome touch screen, it's hard to find one that compares to that.

My mate bought an X1 outright the other day. Really nice, but a bit on the steep side if you ask me. That's a lot of coke and hookers to trade in for a mobile. It would be good for the traveling business person. I might get one on a plan in 6 months or so if it's around at Optus.

Stupid name, stupid phone

8310 for life.

It will be interesting to see if this phone actually appears, might cause abit of a shake up if its a decent bit of kit.

On the otherhand, after ditching my nokia n82 (good phone but no proper keyboard) and htc touch diamond (seriously, win mo sucks balls) i love my blackberry bold.

Fantastic keyboard, awesome screen, great media player, syncs with itunes, has 3.5 m jack, plays any bit of media/tv show/movie I've thrown at it without need for conversion of any sort, and decent web browsing, can't be happier!
Just wish it had a slightly better camera!

yeah i was looking at one of those. no 5mp camera though right?

The bold?
Nah only 2 mega pixel with flash (which doubles as a torch which is handy)
I think video recording is 640x480 res..

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2009/01/new_kogan_agora_shots_get_us_excited_for_android_all_over_again.html

Screen could stand to be a bit bigger.

Can anyone comment on what android OS will offer apart from google services thats good?

Will it allow me to use ANY sim?
Will it allow me to download ANY app written thats android compatible?
Will ANY dev kit for the phone allow my to write software that uses ANY part of the phone such as GPS?
Will the phone allow me SSH/Shell access to ANY file unlike most files that keep me in the 'user allowed file space'?
Does the phone do everything the iphone/n95 does OS wise?
Can i run two apps at the same time on it and switch back and forth?

Thanks!!!

Getting an N96 tomorrow night, have got the s***s with my n70, time for a new one....$54 a month for 24 months, is pretty f***ing cheap (29 cap + 25 repayments (phone works out to be $600))

Has nothing to do with Kogan, other than the fact it's better. :D

Android might be cool but those photos make the phone look like a POS

Can anyone comment on what android OS will offer apart from google services thats good?

Will it allow me to use ANY sim?

That's a phone-specific thing afaik, I don't think it's Android specific. I know the Google dev phone you can buy can be used with any SIM, and the T-Mobile G1 is iirc locked to their network.

Will it allow me to download ANY app written thats android compatible?

Yep, though not everything I think will be available in the appstore, but you can put anything on it somehow (don't know how).

Will ANY dev kit for the phone allow my to write software that uses ANY part of the phone such as GPS?

I think SOME parts of the hardware are locked off or access is limited to only a small subset of the functionlity (based on comments I've read on slashdot). I think this is to keep like FCC compliance or something (ie, to stop people writing software that lets the phone be used as a portable radar jammer or something maybe, who knows).

Will the phone allow me SSH/Shell access to ANY file unlike most files that keep me in the 'user allowed file space'?

probably; it runs lunix - I guess you're really asking, 'can I get root access?' - I know the G1 they didn't want people to have root but unsurprisingly they found a way

Does the phone do everything the iphone/n95 does OS wise?

no, it does more!@#

Can i run two apps at the same time on it and switch back and forth?

I THINK so, especially after watching this video which shows it happening. I think you can also run apps in the background, unlike the iphone

Thanks!!!

How about this:

When the hell are we going to see one in real life?

seeing those screen shots, while android might be a cool operating system, I'd rather stick my hands on a product that exists in the wild today, so that's why I'm likely to buy the Samsung i780 next week, same sorta features as the Agora for the same sorta price, but available for purchase today :)

damn glossy finish sucks! looks cool though and bring it on winmobile is the sux!

thanks for taking the time to answer those questions Trog!

(ie, to stop people writing software that lets the phone be used as a portable radar jammer or something maybe, who knows).

damn thats actually what i wanted to play with :( writing a packet capture util like app/service to capture what goes on with handshake etc. Bit of a muck around. Also i wouldnt mind looking into cloning sim cards. I know you can clone anyone sim and use it on a unlocked phone and when someone calls the phone both phone ring, if you let the other (original phone) pick up first then you can pick up and listen to the convo... also aparently sms are sent to both phones...

does anyone know if you buy a phone now... if it will be upgradable with future android version/software?

thats one thing i've noticed is usually wireless routers and phones etc stop releasing upgrades to the software - even if it can still be improved (like alot of wireless 802.11b routers could actually run 802.11g but they brought a new model out that you had to buy :( instead of writing a new upgrade for it)

Site has been updated today with some new photos and a video http://www.kogan.com.au/blog/2009/jan/7/photos-and-videos-agora/

same photos as linked above

Kogan Agora has been delayed indefinitely:

I'm disappointed to have to tell you that the Kogan Agora has to be delayed indefinitely.

This delay comes due to potential future interoperability issues.

The Agora did reach a very late stage of development. Manufacturing had commenced and it was a matter of days from being shipped to you. However, it now seems certain the Agora in it's current form will limit its compatibility and interoperability in the near future.

One of the potential issues is the screen size and resolution. It seems developers will be creating applications that are a higher resolution than the Agora is currently capable of handling.

I am sorry for this delay, but in the interest of doing things right by the Kogan brand promise, and you, the customers, I cannot disappoint you by supplying a product that I am aware will shortly have significant limitations.

In order to fully appreciate the feature-rich applications Android developers will be creating in coming months and years, the Agora must be redesigned.

All customers who pre-ordered the Agora will receive a full refund. All refunds will be processed within 7 days.

Seems like I'm going to be stuck with nokia 1100. I really was considering getting an android phone :(

There should be others released this year from HTC, Sony-Ericsson and others, and possibly even Kogan's still. I'm glad he didn't announce a new date for it though, that would have been a really bad move.

I'm actually glad to hear this. I was really considering getting this phone when I first heard about it, but was let down by the size of the screen and a few other things.

What I'd REALLY love would be a N97 type Android device. I'd be totally sold if they brought it back like that, though I'm not holding my breath.

Why can't you just buy Android phones from overseas?

You can, but they're overly expensive and there's no local support if something breaks.

I read somewhere you can buy a developer version of the phone for USD$399 and it has some different decal / etching on the back of it to distinguish as being such.

With regards to the locked thread trog, I knew you were going say that but without a search function (on AusGamers forum) it's pretty annoying to find existing threads.

get some mad skillz up ya

get some mad skillz up ya

Hot tip.

So, forget Google 1337 ski11z, here's a hot business tip for Ausgamers:

1. Hire a GFX artist to do a mock-up Android phone
2. Advertise the phone for pre-order for 6 months prior
3. Collect lotsa cash
4. Invest cash in savings account for 6 months
5. Collect lotsa interest
6. Announce phone will not be released due to plastic shortage
7. Refund lotsa cash
8. Keep lotsa interest

Word.

**Ninja edit** Forgot to remove the 'what happens' statement which I already knew the answer to after reading the article properly.