However, right now the question is what mobile tech should I take to use and test?  On the list so far:

• Truphone and Rebtel for cheap international calling
• A local China Mobile SIM possibly with some mobile data
• A SIMable chip so I can swap SIMs into any phones I like
• iPhone for music and a simple Mandarin language course
• Some offline maps with Olympic venue POI such as Garmin’s
• An N82 for pictures
• Several Proporta backup batteries
• A netbook for mobile blogging (which one?)
• The Macbook Air for proper computing
• A decent gadget bag – something that doesn’t scream ‘laptop’!
• Some high quality headphones for the flights – perhaps Entymotics?

Any other recommendations / options?  Have you been to China and what was useful / rubbish?

It’s a very special video this week — we tried out the SIMable ’sim unlocking solution’ for handsets on a Nokia N95… and it worked. Then we tried it on an Apple iPhone 3G…. and it worked. An EXCLUSIVE! All on camera for your viewing pleasure. £16 of pure joy, that SIMable. I’ve just ordered one myself.

We were joined by a special guest in the form of Josh Russell — entrepreneur, founder, WiMax specialist and new Tuttle Brighton social media cafe host.

We pull take a look at Duracell’s new mobile phone (and iPhone/iPod) Pocket Charger — thanks Duracell, it’s good to see them bringing their might to this market.

James takes a walk about Covent Garden and checks out the phones in use by the tourists and young things. There are plenty of annoyed CDMA-sporting tourists without their cell phones — and even one Canadian couple (we really felt for them).

And — we had so much feedback from the previous two videos about the bloopers (you really liked them) so we’ve kept them in this week. You must, must, must watch — I kid ye not, James Whatley was ’spotted’ by some Italian girl who thought he was a famous singer. She proceeded to demand an autograph and photo. No shrinking violet, our very own Superstar Whatley was happy to oblige. Must-see TV.

Here, then, is the high quality video:

Mobile Industry Review Video 17 from Ewan MacLeod on Vimeo.

Featured SMS Text News people:
- Dan Lane
- Ben Smith
- James Whatley
(and me, Ewan, briefly — for my Sony Ericsson News)

Topics discussed:
1. Duracell’s New Mobile Phone (and iPhone/iPod) Pocket Charger ( 01:13 )
2. SIMable ’sim unlocking solution’ for handsets ( 02:07 )
-Nokia N95 ( 02:40 )
-Apple iPhone 3G ( 06:14 )
3. Sony Ericsson News ( 10:54 )
4. Ewan Macleod discusses the site name change ( 11:16 )
5. Special Guest: Josh Russell ( 12:21 )
6. Femtocell feature coming soon ( 15:40 )
7. James Whatley phone spotting with the Covent Garden Normobs ( 16:48 )
8. James Whatley mistaken for a famous singer? ( 22:30 )

Reading this on a phone? Good news. You can probably view the 3gp version of the video by clicking here. It works on most modern handsets.

This looks rather smart, eh?

Have you come across this before? It launched in April this year and they’ve been shipping to 37 countries since launch.

Here’s the SIMable overview:

SIMable is an ultra thin chip, that when attached to a SIM card, immediately fools most mobile phones into thinking that they have been unlocked. It is compatible with the majority of mobile handsets, including all Nokia BB5 phones, which are becoming more and more difficult to be freed from their original Network.

The company behind it, 24/7 Mobile Solutions Ltd, maintains that:

SIMable can be installed and working in a Network locked handset in a matter of seconds. By using a customised manufactured cutting press, which comes with each unit, a tiny hole needs to be pressed out in the SIM card. Next SIMable needs to be aligned with the SIM and inserted into the locked handset. Using the cutting press, SIMable can be used more than once by transferring to any other SIM card.

Hmm. Interesting! I could use this. In fact I could use it on all my handsets.

I wonder, by the way, if it works with iPhone?

The 24/7 chaps draw these points to your attention as well:

Whilst mobile phone unlocking is not illegal, it will in most cases invalidate the handset’s warranty. SIMable requires no handset interference and thus the full manufacturer’s guarantee remains intact.

The company are keen to stress that unlike any other similar application on the market, SIMable enables 100% functionality on all phones, including full 3G operation.

Ok let’s get down to the nitty gritty. How much?

£16.99 from www.simable.com. Each package includes the SIMable chip and customised cutting press, which eliminates any need for messy SIM cutting with scissors.

I’m going to try and get hold of one and try it out.