Now you’ll remember me raving over the X10 Mini a few weeks ago (such a small device running Android… just brilliant), well, the next model in that range is the ‘Pro’ and the key difference is the slide-out keyboard.

The team filmed Maria’s unboxing with a professional camera and spliced in some HD footage captured at the same time on the Sony Ericsson Vivaz. Good thinking.

I wonder if we’ll be seeing more celebrities and stars unboxing videos in future? Have Sony Ericsson started a trend here?

I particularly like Maria’s comment when she pointed out the manual…

“Then we’ve got the manual. I don’t know who’s interested in that. I just put the battery in the phone and start playing around with it.”

Agreed.

Here’s the video:

Well I have to say I’m a big, big fan of the X10 Mini. I simply loved the device when I came across it at Mobile World Congress back in February and now that it’s arrived in my hands, I can confirm it’s still fantastic.

To be clear, the device isn’t for everyone. If you’ve got massive hands and you can only just work a BlackBerry, then the X10 Mini might be a little too mini for you. But if you remember those ultra small Nokia devices from a few years ago — the 8200 series, I think — then the X10 Mini may get the juices flowing.

It’s an Android device featuring 3G HSPA and a 5 megapixel camera. It’s running on Android 1.6 (upgrade to 2.1 coming in a few months). It’s got a 2.6″ screen and it’s sized around the same dimensions of a credit card.

Here’s the Mini next to my Oyster card:

I am supremely impressed that Sony Ericsson have packed so much functionality into such a small device. Back in February I predicted it would be a hit with women (think: handbags) and with chaps who wanted a full-featured but small phone to fit nicely into a jacket pocket.

If you’re a geek, it’s also perfect for the weekend. The Mini does everything your Nexus One or HTC Desire does — but in a super-small, convenient footprint. It’s the sort of device you’d take on holiday or away for the day when you don’t want to be troubled with a hunking lump of phone.

Writing on the phone is actually rather easy — the on-screen keyboard defaults to a T9-style entry system that will be immensely familiar. I got pretty quick after a few minutes of playing around typing. While I wouldn’t write essays on the Mini (as I often do on the BlackBerry 9700), the phone is perfect for quick communication. I really like the fact I can review all my incoming email, delete/archive/star stuff as necessary and access my calendar, contacts and so on, but from such a convenient and discrete form factor.

Here’s a vid I took showing it in action:

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I’ll post some more on the device soon. If you’ve any questions about it, just ask. Also, check out our X10 Mini flickr gallery.

INQ, the handset manufacturer owned by parent company Hutchison Whampoa was always going to have an easy time of it with the 3 group of companies. A couple of phone calls from the big man and woosh, INQ had clients coming out of its ears. And their handsets, targeted at the mass market, have been very positively received by end-users around the planet (not least because although the devices are certainly capable, they’re also priced in a very attractive manner).

The challenge has been unlocking the rest of the non-Hutchison marketplace. That challenge gets just a little bit easier today though, as INQ have signed a deal with Indian network, Aircel, to distribute both the INQ Mini and the INQ Chat. I think the devices — with their data laden capabilities and attractive price, will be a roaring success in India.

Just to give you an idea of the potential of this deal — the INQ devices will shortly be available in over 5,000 outlets. Plus, cricket legend M.S. Dhoni is fronting the introductory marketing campaign. Yup. That’s a recipe for success in India.

Congratulations INQ and congratulations Aircel. I look forward to posting the ‘we’ve sold a million already‘ news in short order.

(Here’s the INQ blog post announcing Aircel)

Well, here I am… Rafe filmed me doing an intro to the device here:

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And for anyone who’s interested in the phone, we also got the Sony Ericsson chaps to take us on a walk through of it, here:

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I would seriously consider getting one of these ‘for the weekend’. I particularly like the ‘Pro’ which comes with an integrated QWERTY keyboard…

Once the feedback is in, Opera has promised the Android-specific Opera Mini will enter beta form soon, with the usual Opera goodies: small screen rendering, zoom, synced bookmarks and integrated Google search etc.

So now we’ve got the Android browser, we just need the handsets. Anyone? Anyone?