But I digress. I thought that my 4 Year old Nokia E61 could do with an upgrade. I have coveted an iPhone for a while but held off due to price (out of principle a phone does not deserve that much money) and for lack of a keyboard.

In any case I wanted to check the details on the networks. First I confirmed in the CMCC shop that their 3G was some whacko China standard that did not work outside of China. Screw that – over to UNICOM. Asked about plans (for a free phone for the Missus) and also maybe a new number for me (sick of all the SMS Spam here).

To my many questions about packages and data plans the answer was wait until September 1st. About to go off on a rant about the Chinese penchant for accounting and billing cycles that have to perfectly match the calendar cycle (no such thing as reversal entries here in their accrual accounting systems!) and why did I have to wait 3 weeks to sign a contract! The sales dude calmed me down and said:

“No there is a big announcement on Sept 1st – that is when all the info comes out on the 3G plans and phones”.

I then asked about discreet dongles for my laptop and would they work on Mac and Linux. Again “Sept 1st” was the answer.

I asked is the iPhone coming (having read rumours on engadget) – “VERY SOON!” Was the excited answer that I received. I replied, “Sept 1st” to which I got a red face and silence.

I asked a few more questions and the parting comment from myself was….”So Sept 1st…big event, all the info and news will be announced then?”

To which I got a silent nod.

Take it or leave it. He (Sales dude) may be full of crap or not. But I share for you all to use in a responsible manner.

First Kevin Rose and his tea tour group and now Andy Ihnatko. Well it was a long day (especially with a not yet quite right broken ankle on the mend) but well worth it to be able to both meet Andy, give him the insiders tour and satisfy any man’s most basic, bestial and testosterone fuelled primal desires of the flesh………..look at rows of knock off iPhones (and ipones and ifawns) and help bargain them down to the lowest price!

Andy – hope you had fun – I knew that years of Chinese study at university here and IT entrepreneurship would prove to be useful one day.

So 2 out of 3 this week. Really wish we got Leo Laporte as well (not for lack of trying!) and it would have been a trifecta, a six, a home run or a converted try under the posts…….just pick your favourite sport.

Leo our hearts are broken – so please come back one day and let us mark you off the list?