Most people who travel abroad nowadays don't leave home without taking along their laptops, mobile phones or other electronic devices, which can help them stay connected to the rest of the world. However, power sockets (not to mention voltages) vary from one region of the world to the next, so taking an universal adapter along for the ride is always a pretty good idea.

When visiting the CeBIT 2008 expo in Hannover, we've had the chance to take a close and personal look to such a device, presented by the people over at MobileGear and known under the very simple name of Universal Travel Adapter. However, as Mr. Teo Swee Leng, Business Development Manager for MobileGear, informed us, the device is actually a very versatile product (despite of its rather common and unimpressive name), as it can work in just about any part of the world and on any type of power outlet.

Moreover, actually working with this adapter is also a very easy task, since the device features a lateral strip with three different positions: UK, Europe and US/Australia. Thus, by simply moving the button from one position to the next along this strip, the user can "pop-out" one of the device's outlet adapters, namely a two-pin prong for US/Australia and Europe (although the prongs are different, depending on the area), as well as a three-pin version for the UK.

Additionally, the Universal Travel Adapter also features a built-in surge protector and a surge status indicator, so users will know immediately when it's a good idea to unplug their laptops, mobile phones or whatever devices they're charging at the respective moment. And since we're on the subject of power, we should also take a long look at the adapter's power-related specs, namely: 6A max. 100-240Vac (110Vac max. 660W, 230Vac max. 1380W).

Another very useful feature included in this travel adapter is the built-in children safety shutters, which prevent accidental risks.

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