GPRS Package offer from China Mobile
Message from Jeremy: To all Tech IT Easy readers, who could obviously not necessarily remember the initial announcement, I have invited blogger Lucien to write about Web 2.0, China, and many other things that happen to interest him at the moment. Lucien, they’re all yours!
I try to do a guide to find out exactly how China Mobile charges you for GPRS (exchange rate is around 1 euro = 10 RMB).
Level 1 : No Package
If you already have a mobile and you do not want to call China Mobile to subscribe to any GPRS package, you are customer of this package. It is the unified fee : 0.03 RMB per 1K of traffic. The majority of visitors are using this package.
Level 2 : 5 RMB for 10 Megabytes of CMWAP Traffic
CMWAP means China Mobile WAP, you cannot access the Internet. You can only access a very small part of it – those WAP sites directly connected with China Mobile.
Level 3: 20 RMB for Unlimited CMWAP
Level 4: 20 RMB for 50M of CMWAP or CMNET
CMNET means China Mobile Internet. If you exceed 50M of traffic, you pay 0.01 RMB per Kilobytes.
Level 5: 100 RMB for 800 M
Level 6: 200 RMB for 2000M
Level 7: 500 RMB for Unlimited CMNET and CMWAP
To give you some ideas of how much 500 RMB are, let me share my data : When I worked for some chinese IT startup companies in 1998, I earned around 8k RMB, some friends of mine earn 4k and the salary average in most cities is around 2k.
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To get this make sure you get the right SIM card. China Mobile has 3 different SIM cards.
GoTone
- Post paid thus appeals to corporate users
- You need to bring your passport to a China Mobile office and apply for this plan
Easy Own
- Pre paid, most of China Mobile’s subscribers use this
- Green packaging, currently with a bald old man on it
- Prices vary based on how good the phone number is, base prices seems to be ~280 RMB for the SIM Ka
- Currently comes with 50RMB prepaid value card.
- Doesn’t support full Internet access, only WAP (needs to be activated)
M-Zone
- Pre paid with bundles and plans that appeal to the youth market
- Orange packaging currently with some kids on it.
- Doesn’t come with any prepaid value.
- 40 RMB for the SIM Ka
- Supports both WAP and full Internet access (needs to be activated)
I suggest using MZone, it seems to have the best plans and flexibility that would appeal to most foreigners. Also, “Easy Own” apparently doesn’t support full Internet access, only WAP. You can buy a M-Zone SIM Ka at most newstands, phone shops and many other places. You’ll see cardboard signs with phone numbers for sale.