China's mobile phone users hit 574 million by March

[FarCenter]

Beijing (PTI): Mobile phone subscribers in China has risen to more than 574 million by the end of March, as more fixed-line users switched to mobile services because of low rates, the Ministry of Industry and Information said.

The number was 27.3 million more than the end of last year and was boosted by more fixed-line users switching to mobile services because of lower rates, the Ministry said. China's fixed-line operators lost 4.4 million subscribers in the first quarter of this year, sharply bringing down the number of fixed-line customers to 361 million by the end of March, official Xinhua news agency said.

The telecom industry reported a 10.8 per cent jump in revenue at USD 27.7 billion. Mobile phone users in China sent 174.9 billion text messages in the first quarter, a 28.8 per cent rise over the same period last year, it said.

From http://www.thehindu.com/holnus/006200804270340.htm

[YDogg]

1. do any us cell carriers have service in china?

in other words, if you take a cell you use in the states to china, will it work with any network? i've always wondered that. well, maybe not always. but at least since i've had a cell. :-)

[Doctor Cynic]

3. Nope. It's still somewhat closed.

There are just a few state-owned telcos that compete amongst each other, and foreign companies must enter a joint venture if they want to enter the market. The WTO requires them to open up, but it will be slow given that they are somewhat protectionist when it comes to infrastructure.

[YDogg]

4. thanks. i wonder if the olympics will hasten ...

... that development?

[Rosemary2205]

2. They laughed at me.

20 years ago when the college people thought it was just great to close all the factories and get cheaper labor and bigger dividends I tried to tell them they were helping China be the next superpower. I was a laughing stock and told we lazy blue collar people need to suck it up and go back to college.

Now, almost every day I read on this very website a college person struggling to live at my level because of what the college people before them did regarding decent jobs. I feel bad for them. I really do. I also welcome them to the club.

but I'll say it again. China is the next superpower. I used to think it would be in the next generation's lifetime. I'm over 50 and I now think it will no doubt be in my lifetime.