[UPDATE: Vodafone says the Magic will go back onsale today].

Backtracking on comments earlier today, Vodafone now says a "commercial issue" has led to the sudden disappearance of the HTC Magic Google phone from its website, and its abrupt withdrawl from retail stores.

Please hold, caller: Upstart Aussie company Kogan Technologies has dropped its plan to release a Google Android-based cellphone, which was to have been sold into New Zealand from this month. Parallel Imported is filling the gap, providing T-Mobile’s G1 with a local release – though Vodafone is warning potential customers about the unauthorised handset.

New Zealanders are getting their first chance to buy a cellphone running on Google's Android operating system, albeit through an unconventional channel.

Upstart Australian electronics electronics company Kogan International has worked with a contract Chinese manufacturer and Google to create the Android-powered "Agora", just the second Google phone in the world to be released after HTC's G1, which was launched for US carrier T-Mobile.