The IMITO A8 is technologically speaking, a relatively straight forward piece of kit, keeping to the now standard MediaTek cell phone platform. It's thin, it has a two inch TFT screen, does video and pictures, bluetooth, USB 2.0 and dual SIM cards. The main selling point of this Shanzai baby is undoubtedly its customizable outer casing.

The aluminum chassis features a stylish and distinctive blush metal finish, and comes in range of seven colors. The reverse side features the laser etched Micheal Jackson design, of which there are three choices; not surprisingly each design is a classic Jacko pose. It's not entirely clear but it would seem that you get a few different outer shells with the phone, so you can mix and match as per your whim.

Western Opportunity Analysis:

The news is that this phone will available to customers on the Mainland from next month, and I bet it makes a fortune too. Michael Jackson is positively gargantuan in China and now that he's no longer with us, he's becoming even bigger. Of course there's no way you could retail this in the West. Sony own the license to Jacko merchandise and there's no way they're letting you away with this. The smart money is obviously to offer your retail channel other laser etched designs. In fact I would go further and even offer people the design of their choice, kind of like customizable t-shirts, just with phones.

How's about a phone with your girlfriends face on it? Your favorite sports star? Or maybe just your company logo? The shanzai boys are about offering that niche design that people crave, and their business model means they're small and versatile enough to actually embrace true personalization of commoditized devices. Our natural inclination to differentiate ourselves from our peers is almost universal, especially with young people, so I would predict great things for the IMITO A8 and any one who has a piece of it.