It is fast approaching D-Day for the first Australian Google Android phone, the Kogan Agora, to reach the hands of excited customers, but most local carriers haven't given the handset much thought.
It is fast approaching D-Day for the first Australian Google Android phone, the Kogan Agora, to reach the hands of excited
customers, but most local carriers haven't given the handset much thought.
The Agora (Credit: Kogan Technologies)
Optus has written off even testing the device. "Theoretically,
the handset should work on our GSM network, pending testing.
However, there are no short-term plans to test this device as it's
not an Optus handset," a spokesperson said.
Telstra didn't seem to have carried out any testing either.
"The device, like others purchased overseas could potentially
function on our network, but it hasn't been optimised for our
customers so there's no guarantee of the quality of service," a spokesperson said.
The phone would also work "in principle" on the 3 network, with
the carrier calling Android "an excellent platform" although it admitted it was "still understanding the full experience".
A further comment from 3 seemed to hint it could be in line to
offer an Android phone: "At 3 we are always looking to see what's
new and hope to launch an Android device in the future." This
would put the carrier in a better position than at the time of last
year's iPhone release; the carrier is still unable to offer Apple's device.
There are no short-term plans to test this device as it's
not an Optus handset
Optus spokesperson
Vodafone seemed the most positive about the Agora. "Vodafone
Australia continues to evaluate the Kogan Agora and will make
further information available at a later date," a spokesperson
said.
Vodafone has been active in Android, having joined the Open Handset Alliance, which promotes the use of
Android, on 9 December.
The Kogan Agora will ship on 29 January to those across the
country who have ordered it.
