World's cutest phone made exclusively for China

There was a time, not long ago, when Hong Kong shoppers would head over the border to pick up cheap bed linen and knock-off designer goods.

These days, it seems we have to go up there for the latest technology.

NEC will this month launch what it claims is the 'world's smallest, slimmest, card-shaped, camera-equipped mobile phone'.

The phone is so new it does not even have a name.

In a break with tradition, the little marvel happens to be a mainland exclusive. There are no plans to sell it in Hong Kong or, indeed, anywhere outside the mainland, according to a spokesman.

It will be sold in China through both mobile carriers and regular retailers, however, so if you are unwilling to trek to Shenzhen to buy one, you can be assured it will reach Hong Kong as a grey market import.

The 70-gram phone measures just 85mmx54mmx8.6mm, and manages to squeeze in a1.8-inch thin film transistor display and a 0.3 megapixel camera.