Kogan launches second-ever Android phone line

Relatively small-scale electronics maker Kogan today revealed it would be the second company after HTC to ship phones based on Google's Android platform. The Agora and Agora Pro both use the open-source operating system to give the phone a full HTML web browser, a media player, and access to Google-specific services like Google Maps and Gmail without the cost and performance overhead of rivals like Windows Mobile.

The stock Agora at $299 AUD ($192 US) uses both a 2.5-inch touchscreen and a QWERTY keyboard for input and carries tri-band, US-friendly 3G for its Internet access in addition to Bluetooth and a microSD slot; no camera or other extras are included and help pitch the phone to security-sensitive business users. The $399 AUD ($256 US) Agora Pro is meant more for the home and adds a two-megapixel camera, dedicated GPS, and Wi-Fi to the same body design.

Kogan ships both Android smartphones on January 29th and is keen to note that it doesn't limit use to the company's native Australia. [via iTWire]