Hi, my friend & I will be in china for about a week this june. We'd
like to purchase 1 or 2 SIM chips for use on a chinese network.
Could you please give me an idea of:
a) Availability of 900/1900 Mhz GSM networks?
b) expected cost for SIM, and cost per minute of airtime
c) How easy the SIM chip will be to purchase (e.g., every newsstand,
or only at special outlets, paperwork required, etc.)
d) Whether any networks are better/worse than others.
To clarify, I'm looking for the chips used by chinese for local calls,
no international (or even long-distance) dialing facility is
necessary. And I don't want a subscription :)
Thanks,
Shawn

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Clarification of Question by shawn02139-ga on 02 Jun 2004 12:49 PDT

I'd be also keen to know which if any of the pre-paid GSM services
allow use of GPRS. And a bonus if you can confirm that the GPRS
service would work with PDANet for treo's! (this last question may be
too specific)
thanks,
Shawn

Hi Shawn,

I cannot refer you to any online resources, but I'm living in China
myself, so can tell you about my own experience.

Making mobile calls in China is pretty easy: there are already 290
million around. GSM is available nationwide and CDMA is being rolled
out, so when you buy a SIM card you should pick the service of China
Mobile: they only have a GSM network, so you cannot get mixed up. The
second provider, China Unicom, has both a GSM and a CDMA network; the
last one of far from complete but would cover the larger cities.

SIM cards are offered almost anywhere in the big cities. A new SIM
card would cost 150 Renminbi and that would include already 50
Renminbi worth of calling time (about 100 minutes). (1 USD= 8.3
Renminbi). Later you can buy pre-paid cards and add money to your
number, if you need more.

Regards,

Fons

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Request for Answer Clarification by shawn02139-ga on 03 Jun 2004 05:29 PDT

Thanks, just a few more questions and I'll be happy to accept this answer.
i) At what frequency does China Mobile and Unicom offer? There are
three GSM frequenciess: 900, 1800, and 1900. My phone works on 900 and
1900 only.

ii) Do I need to show paperwork (ID, passport, etc.)?

iii) If i buy the sim in beijing, will it work throughout china? 
iv) Are there different charges for within-city dialing and long-distance. 
v) Will the sim i buy off the street be good for international calls?
vi) do you know anything about GPRS?

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Clarification of Answer by fons-ga on 04 Jun 2004 19:17 PDT

Hi,

China uses both the GSM 900 and 1800 system, so that should be no
problem for your mobile.
The situation is changing very fast, but as far as i know usage of
both GPRS and wireless access to the internet is only available for
Chinese residents, or people who have an account with one of the
service providers.
That is a bit troublesome for visitors of China, it will change, but
maybe not yet this year.
I have no information on the PDANet, but estimate you would also have
a domestic account for that access.

Links:
http://press.nokia.com/PR/199809/778551_5.html
http://home.wangjianshuo.com/archives/20030707_use_gprs_in_shanghai.htm

Sorry, forgot a few or you questions: you might have to show an id for
the SIM card, but in most cases vendors are only interested in getting
sales done. When you have a problem - language could be one - just as
for help in any hotel. But most people are able to do it by
themselves.
Charges are basically the same, but when you buy a card in Beijing,
you would be charged roaming charges outside the city. When you travel
out of the larger cities, getting pre-paid cards might be sligthly
harder, a point to take into account. You would be able to receive all
(international calls), you would have to check with the vendor whether
a card would allow you also to make international calls.