| For over a year, all the buzz on the tech blogs was | | | | have Bluetooth 2.0 along with EDR, but it only comes |
| Google's upcoming open source mobile operating | | | | with built-in WiFi and GPS if you purchase the Kogan |
| system, Google Android, to compete with the Apple | | | | Agora Pro. The Pro version of the Agora also comes |
| iPhone OS, Windows Mobile, Symbian, and the RIM | | | | with a 2-megapixel camera, which the regular Kogan |
| BlackBerry OS, among others. | | | | Agora does not. |
| Recently the long-anticipated first smartphone to run | | | | A welcome relief to customers loyal to their wireless |
| on this new mobile operating system, the first Google | | | | carrier, according to Kogan, the Agora will be |
| Phone as it were, was put out by HTC in the T-Mobile | | | | supported on many of the world's most popular |
| G1 (also seen as G-1). For a while now, the HTC G1 | | | | carriers, including T-Mobile and AT&T. |
| was the only smartphone you could buy that ran on | | | | The Kogan Agora will ship as of January 29, 2009, |
| Google's proprietary new open source mobile OS. | | | | unlocked with tri-band UMTS/HSDPA and quad-band |
| But no longer. | | | | GSM, for $300 AUS or $194 USD not including shipping |
| Kogan, an Australian company, has unveiled the Agora, | | | | (which will bring it to $223 USD). |
| only the second smartphone device in the world to run | | | | In the meantime HTC, the maker of the inaugural |
| on Google Android. And even though the | | | | Google Phone, has just acquired a design house in |
| manufacturer is Australian, the company has already | | | | order to make its devices more fashionable, stylish, |
| announced that it will be more than happy to ship the | | | | and trendy. The aim is to make HTC the smartphone |
| Kogan Agora anywhere in the world that desires it. | | | | market leader in the look and feel department. |
| The Agora is a tablet-shaped device that resembles a | | | | The firm, named One & Co, counts among its |
| blocky BlackBerry (pre-Curve). So that means it has a | | | | roster of former clients: Apple, Nike, TiVo, Jansport, |
| full QWERTY keyboard on the face, albeit with tiny | | | | and Microsoft. A One & Co exec said that it plans |
| keys, and 2.5" QVGA touch screen. | | | | to bring its "lifestyle, user-focused approach" to HTC's |
| It has 256 MB of memory with 128 MB Flash storage | | | | line of products. Already it's been involved in the |
| as well as a microSD expansion card slot. The battery | | | | creation of the HTC S740, the HTC Touch Pro, and |
| time is reported to last for as many as 300 hours on | | | | the HTC Touch Diamond. |
| standby and 400 minutes of talk time. The Agora does | | | | |