Why hello there!

Ahoy!

Hello from the Conrad Rangali Island!

(Photo via the iPhone)

Just 10 hours separate the United Kingdom — Gatwick Airport, to be precise — and the collection of islands known as the Maldives.

Why am I here?

Well, I do need a break. It’s been a long time since I relaxed. Total relaxation won’t be entirely possible though, as there’s work to be done.

Yes! There’s work to be done. We’ve been given a veritable trove of mobile related equipment to test out, play with and put-through-paces in a ‘remote desert island setting’.

Just how does your everyday common-or-garden equipment manage under desert island conditions? It’s a real concern for me. I don’t say that lightly. I need to be connected. I can’t — very easily — be disconnected from the internet. It’s not a mental thing (I really enjoy switching off), it’s a business thing. My work dictates that I must be within a few hours of a decent internet connection and, so does the work of a lot of people nowadays.

I was keen to explore the feasibility of working remotely — and also seeing what kind of technology you really do need to have with you when you’re remote.

I say ‘remote’ — the Conrad hotel has 100% cell phone access and complimentary wireless internet across the island — but, irrespective, how best do you stay in touch with work? And what do you do when your iPhone’s battery runs out? And what’s the best machine to take with you to a desert island? All this and more, we shall be exploring.

And, er, we’ll be taking a look at the complexities of importing shit hot brilliant technology and the, er, trials and tribulations therein. More on that shortly.