A Second Android-Based Smartphone Unveiled

The T-Mobile G1 will soon lose its title as the only smartphone in the world that runs Android. Kogan has just taken the wraps off the Agora, which will be based on Google's operating system, offer 3G, a touchscreen, and a built-in keyboard.

This device will have a tablet shape, with a QWERTY keyboard below its 2.5-inch, QVGA touchscreen. Between these will be a 5-way D-pad. 

It will run Android on a 624 MHz processor and naturally will come with the standard suite of Android software, much of which ties in to Google's online services, like Gmail and Google Maps.

Kogan is based in Australia, but is willing to ship the Agora anywhere in the world. This device will be sold unlocked with quad-band GSM (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) and tri-band UMTS/HSDPA (850, 1900, 2100 MHz).

It will also have Bluetooth 2.0 with EDR, but not Wi-Fi.

More about the Kogan Agora

This smartphone will have 256 MB of built-in memory with 128 MB of Flash storage. It will also have a microSD card expansion slot

Overall, the Agora will be 108 mm x 64 mm x 14.8 mm.

Kogan says a charge of its 1300 mAh battery will be good for up to 400 minutes of talk time or up to 300 hours of stand-by time.

Pricing and Availability

Kogan says it will begin shipping the Agora on January 29.

It will sell for AUS $300, or USD $194. International shipping will bring this up to USD $223.

As an unlocked GSM device, the Agora will be usable with a wide variety of wireless carriers around the world, including AT&T and T-Mobile in the U.S.

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