They hyped it as the first Google Android phone in Australia, but they failed to deliver one single device. Now in an embarrassing back flip Kogan Technologies is saying that their version of the phone was a dud and is now being pulled due to what Kogan is describing at interoperability issues
The unknown Company, Kogan Technologies, manufactures and sells cut-price TVs and other non mainstream branded products. In a move that surprised the consumer electronic industry, the Company claimed that it would be them and not HTC who would have the first Google Android phone in Australia. The even took orders and deposits on their new mobile offering which was due to go on sale on January 29th.
However some industry analysts are claiming that the issue was no more than a stunt to get publicity for the Company. At the time of the announcement Google Australia told SmartHouse that even they were surprised that Kogan was claiming that they would have the first Google Android phone in the Country.
In a statement issued via a Professional Public Relations Kogan has said that they have now pulled launch of the “Kogan Agora”, saying the handset needed to be redesigned “to ensure its compatibility with all future Android applications”.
However the Company’s Melbourne based marketing director Daniel Beahan claims he has no knowledge of the phone being cancelled. In an interview with SmartHouse he said “I am surprised. I am away on holidays and no one has told me that the phone is cancelled. I find it very surprising as our founder Ruslan Kogan who was driving that project is away in the USA at the moment.”
In a statement issued by PPR, Kogan say that the Agora phone will be delayed indefinitely due to potential future interoperability issues however they don’t explain why they announced the new phone and took orders when it appears they had not tested the viability of the proposed new handset or detected interoperability issues prior to announcing the product.
Kogan Technologies founder Ruslan Kogan said the phone will undergo a significant redesign in order to ensure its compatibility with all future Android applications.
“The Agora reached a very late stage of development, manufacturing had commenced and we were within days of shipping the product to customers. But it now seems certain the current Agora specifications will limit its compatibility or interoperability in the near future,” Ruslan Kogan said.
A senior HTC executive in Taiwan told SmartHouse that there was “absolutely no issues with the Google Android platform. If Kogan are having problems it is of their own making. More than likely they don’t have the money to produce the phone and are using the interoperability issue as an excuse”.
Kogan said “I am sorry for this delay, but in the interests of proving the best possible product at the best possible price, I cannot disappoint my customers by supplying a product that I am aware will shortly have significant limitations”.
