This information is a guide to help you use your mobile phone while in China.
1) Selecting a mobile phone
If you wish to use your own phone taken from home, make sure to bring a compatible GSM/GPRS 900/1800 dual-frequency mobile phone. The phone must be an "unlocked" phone, you can find out if you phone is locked or not by calling your home service provider. Some but not all locked phones can be unlocked.
And if your phone does not fit the description above, here are some tips on purchasing a cell phone in Beijing:
a.Purchase it at a licensed China Telecom Service provider.
b.Purchase it at a licensed mobile handset store.
c.Please keep the VAD receipt and warranty statement for refunding or repair, in case of any defects found prior to use, or any damage which occurs during use.
2) Selecting a SIM card
A postpaid service is recommended to those who plan to stay in Beijing for an extended period, or require variable communication services. GoTone of China Mobile, World Wind of China Unicom, and CDMA New Space of China Telecom are good choices for post paid services.
3) Applying for a mobile phone number and mobile internet service
You can apply for a mobile phone number and mobile internet service with your valid passport at the service hall of a mobile service provider. If you need more services, please call the customer service hotline (listed below) of the mobile service provider.
4) How to use mobile phone services
Making calls
a. Making an international call
First make sure that international call service is available from your telecommunication/mobile service provider. When calling a landline, first dial the international prefix (00) + country code + area code + telephone number. For example, to call the landline number 042-740 -7520 in Tokyo, Japan, dial 00 81 42-740-7520.To call a cell phone, dial the international prefix (00) + country code + cell phone number. For example, to call the cell phone number 090-6488 -1405 in Tokyo, Japan, dial 00 81 90-6488-1405.
b. Making long-distance calls in China
To call a landline number, dial the area code prior dialing to the telephone number.
To call a cell phone number, dial 0 prior to dialing the cell phone number .
c. Public service phone numbers
Police: 110
Fire Department: 119
Ambulance: 120
Local Directory assistance: 114
Traffic Accidents: 122
Weather Forecast: 12121
Red Cross Ambulance: 999
Accessing the internet
a. Check the type of phone that you will use. If you are using a GSM phone, you must apply for GPRS service, which is available by calling the customer service hotline of the mobile service provider. CDMA phones can access the internet by default.
b. Set up WAP with the following configuration:
IP Address: 10.0.0 .172
User name: 172
Password: 172
Port: 9201 or 80 (usually pre-set)
Protocol: WSP or HTTP (usually pre-set)
Access point: This depends on your mobile service provider: use cnwap for China Mobile client, and uniwap for China Unicom, and China Telecom.
c. Type in the WAP address and begin surfing.
