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Communications2006/07/26
International calls can be made directly from hotel rooms with IDD lines. Some large post offices also provide this service. Otherwise, look for roadside kiosks with an IDD sign. An inexpensive way to make long distance calls is by using an IP (Internet phone) card, which cost about 4.8 yuan per minute, less than half the rate of an IDD call. IP cards can be obtained at hotels, Internet cafes and news-stands and are available in both English and Chinese.
Cell Phones If you are going to be staying in Beijing for even a short time, it may prove economical to purchase a pre-paid Chinese SIM for your cell phone provided your cell is open to all networks. There are two mobile operators in China, China Mobile and China Unicom. Both offer a range of pre-paid packages starting at around 50 yuan for the SIM, depending on the distinctiveness of the phone number. A list will be presented to you of available numbers. It costs to receive calls so you will be required to purchase a minimum 50-yuan top-up card initially. Calls to Beijing landlines or cells are charged at a fixed rate of between 0.25 yuan and 0.6 yuan. To receive calls costs between 0.1 yuan and 0.4 yuan and text messages are fixed at 0.1 yuan. The process can be difficult if no Chinese is spoken. PIN codes are required and automated messages will require particular inputs. But the salesperson will help if you just go into one of the two operators stores and say: “Wo yao yizhang yufufei de SIM ka he yizhang chongzhika.” — 我要一张预付费的SIM卡和一张充值卡。 (I want a pre-paid SIM card and credit for this cell phone.) China Mobile offers an English-language operator assistance line by calling 1860 and China Unicom’s similar service is at 1001. To avoid high costs on long-distance calling, add 17931 before the desired number. (English-language operator assistance line of China Unicom) Both operators offer GSM, while China Unicom also offers CDMA.
Internet and E-mail Internet cafes can be found all over the city and cost 3 yuan–15 yuan an hour for a relatively high-speed connection. They are generally open all night. For detailed information please visit: http://www.bjtelecom.com.cn/service/fwzhn/iwDCR0_221814.shtml http://www.bj.chinaunicom.com/products/index.html Business travellers in Beijing can switch to a Chinese pre-paid SIM, which saves a fortune. There are two mobile carriers service Beijing, China Mobile and China Unicom. China Mobile offers GSM, and China Unicom offers GSM as well as CDMA.
China Mobile A new SIM on China Mobile (Shen Zhou Xing) is available from any shop where you see the China Mobile sign. Ask any salesperson for a pre-paid SIM with the phrase Wo yao The Shen Zhou Xing SIM does not have any call credit when you first purchase it. You should use a “recharge card” (chongzhi ka) to add value, thus allowing you to make and receive calls. Recharge cards are generally available in 100 yuan denominations, although lower and higher values are sometimes available. To get on the air, simply slip the SIM into your phone—there is no PIN or pass code—your handset should indicate “CHINA MOBILE”. It usually costs 0.6 yuan per minute for local calls. To make DDD calls, dial 12593+city code + number; while making IDD calls, dial 17951+ 0010+city code + number. China Mobile also offer English-language operator assistance line—call 1860.
China Unicom GSM The Unicom GSM pre-paid product is called Ru Yi Tong (“Happy Communication”). Getting a Unicom Ru Yi Tong SIM is as easy as with China Mobile. The basic SIM cost (without call credit) starts at 50 yuan, and SIM pricing rises depending on the number’s distinctiveness. And IP card can be used on this SIM card to save money. Call 1001 (English-language operator assistance line of China Unicom) for more information.
China Unicom CDMA If you use a CDMA handset, you’re limited to China Unicom. Basic SIM and recharge card costs are the same as Unicom and China Mobile GSM, however, call charges are cheaper, at only 0.4 yuan/minute (US$0.05/minute). The process of obtaining a local CDMA number is exactly the same as in the above examples, and the English operator assistance line is the same as for Unicom GSM: 1001.
Communication and Internet Service Number
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京ICPè¯050057å·http://www.miibeian.gov.cn