I'm moving to China and I need to get info on cellular service providers there?

Question

Do the use a GSM or CDMA System?

Answer 1

GSM. You can use your own phone, and just need to get a pre-paid card. Do not get China Unicom cards. Chances are you won't cuz they are harder to find (not every store or magazine stand holds these).

When you look for your first card, do not get fooled by paying the vendor extra because "it is a lucky number". Telephone numbers with lots of 8's or 9's have high appeal. Just like numbers with a lot of 4's have no appeal (4 is a very unlucky number here). This is if you buy from the street vendors (easy to spot = they would have a small table with a bunch of phonecards on them). Getting your card in a 24-hour store, you avoid the haggling.

Keep in mind that prepaid cards have limitations. Standard cards offer reception of international text messages, but you cannot reply. The cards are mainland China only = they wont work in HK or Macau or Taiwan. Not the standard ones, I believe you can now do optional charges for some roaming services, but it aint all that cheap.

The cards do not offer benefits such as "no charge on receiving a call". So keep an eye on usage, because both calling and receiving costs. An average usage of a couple of calls a day would have you use a 100rmb card for about two weeks. Some vendors have 50rmb cards, and you can stack these very easily. Meaning you can buy 5 cards and activate all 5 to have a 500rmb credit.

Cards can very in appearance, but the principle is the same. You dial the main number, then punch in the entire card number, followed by #. Done.

Chinese numbers are long; 11 digits. The card numbers to charge your phone are even longer :P

If you stay here for awhile, you may consider asking a trusted local to vouch for you, and get a genuine subscription. Then you get all regular services; roaming, voice mail, the works. You can also choose offers where incoming calls are free. But only local city residents can apply or apply in your name.

To make your international cards, pay a visit to the street vendors to get calling cards for long distance calls. Again; do not get suckered into paying full price, you can very often get at discounted price. These cards are a bit troublesome/labor intensive = you have the main number to call, then the card number to enter, the password number, then the international number using 00 and country code first, then pound. Meaning if you miss a dial or get a busy tone, you get a second round of number punching.

If you bring your phone and charger, you may need an adapter too...

Answer 2

China Mobile is the largest cellular phone service provider. If you're traveling outside of the city you plan to visit, make sure you get a SIM card with a mobile number, which is good everywhere in China. If your US phone is not compatible, you can buy a cheap phone for less than $40USD. Prepaid phone cards are available everywhere. I use about 100 yuan per month ($12USD) and use a VOIP (voice over Internet) for calls back to the US. I use the service associated with Yahoo Instant Messenger for a whopping 1 penny per minute. These calls will require access to a computer, but most cities have Internet cafes everywhere. There are many other companies out there that provide this service.

Keep in mind that China is the worlds largest cellular market and coverage has been extended to almost everywhere instead of running costly land lines. The cellular phone issue will be one of your easiest problems to solve. Have fun!

Answer 3

Chinese providers use GSM, but if you bring a GSM phone from the US it will probably NOT work here unless you have unlocked it. When you buy a discounted phone and sign up for a contract with a US provider they typically lock your phone so you can't use a different SIM card. They will charge you a lot to unlock it (if they will do it at all), but if you search the web or eBay you can find other options to unlock your phone cheaply, then when you arrive in China you just buy a cheap SIM card and your phone will work fine.

Answer 4

China Mobile. You could bring your own GSM phone from the States and then get a chip in China.

Answer 5

there is 3 major telco offering GSM and CDMA service. China-mobile is the largest telco. take a look at the plan they are offering before u decide which to sign up.

Answer 6

99% of the cell plans are pre-paid, with no voicemail. I guess you could get voicemail, but I've never heard of anyone here having it. I use about 100元 a month (about $12) unless I am dialing the states often. You got to most any local convenience store, like an All-Days or Keidi, and you buy an amount, call the number on the back, punch in the code, and your phone is paid up.

Answer 7

Best two supplier for GSM China mobile (中国移动, Pronounce Zhong Guo Yi Dong) and China Unicom (中国联动, Pronounce Zhong Guo Lian Dong), And make sure you purchase it from approved seller. And if you want to make/send worldwide call/SMS ensure they provide the worldwide card (全球通, pronounce quan qiu tong)

Answer 8

purely 2 provider for GSM China cellular (????, Pronounce Zhong Guo Yi Dong) and China Unicom (????, Pronounce Zhong Guo Lian Dong), and determine you purchase it from approved seller. And in case you have the desire to make/deliver international call/SMS make constructive they provide you the international card (???, pronounce quan qiu tong)

Answer 9

GSM, as long as it is 3 g, then your phone would work!

Answer 10

GSM. you can bring your phone, and please make sure you have the electricity converter with you.

when you get your phone, and you can just buy a SIM card, and you can start using. very easy.