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New directions

Hot on the heels of the Hong Kong Audio Guide comes another device that will allow you to leave your tour-guide hat on the hatstand when a visitor arrives in the city. Now you can just book them into a hotel and tell them to ask Ting Ting (www.asktingting.com), a mobile gadget that offers more than the audio guide, containing as it does over 40 entertaining video tours as well as suggestions for dining, shopping, entertainment, sports and other recreation.

This innovative, interactive electronic device fits in the palm of your hand and has been designed with an intuitive user interface, which means it is easy to use: you just select a category and it will present you with more than 500 points of interest, from Hong Kong's historic sites and hip hangouts, to chic shops and hidden treasures, plus restaurant and shopping recommendations and upcoming events, all of which are regularly updated.

It is loaded with more than two hours of video content narrated by television presenter Sarah Lian, with entertaining clips as well as trivia tidbits and facts. The ultra-slim device doubles as a mobile phone and includes a local SIM card, so visitors won't have to incur budget-busting roaming fees or download or install the software on their own phones. They'll enjoy free local calls as well as unlimited internet and e-mail access. In addition, there's a built-in camera and GPS-based maps. Thoughtful extras include the 'take me home' feature, which informs users of the most direct route from their current position to their hotel, with all addresses presented in English and Chinese.

Ask Ting Ting devices will be available to rent by the day from the concierge desks of Hong Kong's premium hotels this month.

Matthias Hendrichs, founder and managing director of the device's creator, Mobile Guide (HK), says: 'I wanted a guide that would be informative and practical but, equally important, it had to be entertaining. Ask Ting Ting lets you discover a new city in an entertaining way, rather than being bored by too many unnecessary facts.'

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