China Mobile pleads for compatible iPhone
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When I was in Beijing, China Unicom lagged behind China Mobile, until 3G was available. Generous 'pay as you go' tariffs already available meant it the odd surfing or QQ was done on the subway by quite a few people.
Many people over there realise the futility of China pursuing its own 3G standard, but understand it is for good reason. If this was the USA, we all know they'd be doing exactly the same. Western mobile phones are expensive due to the tax, ironic given most are manufactured and boxed in China. But Chinese phones are often rubbish, with the exception of the odd brands even the Westerner will recognise, such as 'Lenovo' mobile phones.
China Unicom's 3G offering is really quite expensive at the minute, and I suspect it will not take off until the 3G non Chinese branded mobile phones become significantly cheaper. Faster browsing, fine, but the massive negative affect on battery life is known to most also.
China Unicom and China Mobile are owned by two very rich people who are well known to each other historically, meaning tariffs and prices are artificially similar. In reality there isn't as much choice in the real sense due to this.
