It’s touted as the easiest way to unlock about 85 per cent of modern mobile phones. And now the British-designed SIMable system – which involves no tinkering with your phone – works with the Apple iPhone 3G (as well as up-to-the-minute Blackberry, Nokia and HTC smartphones). There is just one little catch, though…

The SIMable system, while not needing you to make any warranty-voiding alterations to your phone, does mean snipping a small hole in your SIM card. The company sends you a free punch, a SIMable chip and fairly clear instructions.

Once punched, the chip slides alongside your SIM card into your phone’s card slot and fools it into thinking you’re on the right network. And that means for a one-off cost you can unlock most phones.

Punching a hole in the non-chip part of your SIM card may be scary, but it’s better than those arm-and-a-leg iPhone contract fees.

Out now | £19.94 (inc. P&P) | SIMable (via Tech Digest)