A company called PadInTheCity is running a neat business, renting 3G iPads to interested tourists in Madrid, Spain to help them get around the city. Each iPad comes preloaded with a number of applications and unlimited data — all for 25 EUR per day. That’s kinda steep especially for those staying longer in the capital of Spain.

via PadInTheCity rents iPads in Madrid, Spain.

I think I’d buy this, definitely. Right now it’s only available in Madrid however Dusan reports they’re aiming to extend operations to other cities around the world.

It’s a great concept. As Dusan points out, €25 a day does add up if you’re in the city for 2 weeks, however if you’re just there for two days, it might actually be really useful, especially given you’ve got unlimited data as well.

Nice idea. Find out more at www.padinthecity.com.

Rentobile is genius. I’ve been thinking of starting something like this for a while in the UK.

But for Americans, stuffed by the (somewhat) rubbish mobile carriers in the States not carrying Nokia or any other decent European devices, this is a boon.

Rentobile carries a large range of different devices — some locked to the big networks, others entirely unlocked.

If you’re a member (rates vary, but if you buy a year’s membership, it works out at $5 per month) you can get hold of most of the top of the range devices for around $35-40. I’m talking N96, E71, Sony Ericsson Xperia and so on.

If you choose not to be a member, then you pay about $20 more for the monthly handset rental rate. And the minimum rental period is a month.

I reckon this service will — if it hasn’t already — garner a huge, huge following from the Americans starved of access to European devices.

I’m right, aren’t I? I could name 10 US citizens right now who’d sign-up for this in a jiffy. You don’t want to go spunking $500 for an unlocked handset from a supplier only to find out it’s not.that.good do you? So rent it for a month … then try another one.

I haven’t tried this myself although I’m tempted to arrange something for when I’m in Las Vegas.

Anyone else tried it?

See also the service write-up write up on Springwise. (Thanks Charlie)