China Mobile Offers Instructions and SIM-Cutting Service for iPhone 4 Owners

[MacRumors]

The Wall Street Journal reports that China Mobile, the country's largest mobile phone carrier, is taking steps to assist customers who wish to use the iPhone on its network, despite official distribution being limited to China Unicom for the time being. The steps include instructions for setting up the iPhone to operate on China Mobile's network and in-store service to trim down China Mobile SIM cards to fit the iPhone 4's microSIM slot.

In addition to providing instructions for how to activate an iPhone 4 with China Mobile service (changing settings to enable location-based services, for example), the website says ten China Mobile outlets around Beijing will provide a special service to help users cut their SIM cards to fit the iPhone 4's smaller microSIM card slot.

The website offers a helpline for users with technical questions and says China Mobile Group Beijing Co. "is now working hard to make the microSIM card, and it will soon be available in our outlets."

China Mobile customers are showing significant interest in using the iPhone 4 on China Mobile's network rather than switching to China Unicom, despite the fact that the iPhone 4 is incompatible with China Mobile's 3G network, which runs on the Chinese TD-SCDMA standard rather than the WCDMA standard used elsewhere.

China Mobile has been working for some time to gain access to iPhone distribution, but Apple has reportedly been unwilling to create a TD-SCDMA-specific handset to run on the carrier's 3G network.

Article Link: China Mobile Offers Instructions and SIM-Cutting Service for iPhone 4 Owners

 

[iansilv]

And why doesn't T-Mobile do this??

I think they should set this up on their website and compare their plans directly with ATT!

 

[mrbrightside623]

And why doesn't T-Mobile do this??

I think they should set this up on their website and compare their plans directly with ATT!

Cause the iPhone 4 will only be using the T-Mobile Edge network if done like that. With this situation I think their frequencies are the same thus allowing this to work. While here in the US, T-Mobile and AT&T are on different frequencies for their 3g signal.

 

[Nermal]

Plus US phones are locked.

 

[larrylaffer]

"Hacked by Chinese"

 

[jayducharme]

So if Apple is unwilling to make a special version of the iPhone for the huge Chinese market, why are there such persistent rumors that Apple will make a special iPhone for Verizon's comparatively smaller market?

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

Never thrust them.

 

[Kenrik]

So if Apple is unwilling to make a special version of the iPhone for the huge Chinese market, why are there such persistent rumors that Apple will make a special iPhone for Verizon's comparatively smaller market?

Not everyone in china can afford a cell phone.. Plus Verizon services 100 million customers.. 1/3 of the United States runs on Verizon.

That's a pretty big market IMO.

 

[waynema]

2 little facts fyi:
China Mobile's subscribers as of Sept 2010: 569.76 mill
iPhones will only work on their EDGE network.

http://www.chinamobileltd.com/ir.php?menu=12

IMO, Its too big of a market for apple to ignore

 

[revelated]

For some reason Apple does not play with the larger providers. I've known people on China Mobile and it's definitely huge. AT&T might have a fairly large sub base but only because of the iPhone, comparatively.

Makes me wonder if they don't have the engineering know-how, or the management threshold, to do multiple band devices for different carriers, and instead default to the lowest common denominator.

 

[johnwatson149]

larger providers for Apple

For some reason Apple does not play with the larger providers. I've known people on China Mobile and it's definitely huge. AT&T might have a fairly large sub base but only because of the iPhone, comparatively.

Makes me wonder if they don't have the engineering know-how, or the management threshold, to do multiple band devices for different carriers, and instead default to the lowest common denominator.

The website offers a helpline for users with technical questions and says China Mobile Group Beijing Co. "is now working hard to make the microSIM card, and it will soon be available in our outlets."China Mobile customers are showing significant interest in using the iPhone 4 on China Mobile's network rather than switching to China Unicom, despite the fact that the iPhone 4 is incompatible with China Mobile's 3G network, which runs on the Chinese TD-SCDMA standard rather than the WCDMA standard used elsewhere.



Mortgage Advice

 

[eastercat]

I'd be laughing if all those rumored CDMA phones went to China Mobile.

 

[wood0004]

China Mobile uses GSM not CDMA. China has three mobile providers:

China Telecom - CDMA (CDMA2000 for 3G)
China Unicom - GSM (WCDMA for 3G like most of the world)
China Mobile - GSM (TD-SCDMA for 3G which is China developed standard)

There is no chance CDMA version would go to China Telecom which really is only in existence for home and office broadband and telephone service through POTS lines.

China Unicom's 3G system is pretty impressive. They have few towers that support EDGE as almost all are WCDMA or GPRS only and I rarely lose my 3G signal, only when there is a lot of obstruction.

China Mobile has the most providers and a solid EDGE network but doesn't really have a decent phone to go with their TD-SCDMA network. I have two expensive CHina Mobile numbers (because of the lucky digits/number combinations) that I am holding on to until they get a decent phone or China licenses them to use WCDMA.

 

[expatinhongkong]

iphone and ipad international

Even if you have a legally, unlocked phone and Ipad (ie. From Hong kong or Australia. When your phone checks in on your US appstore account to see if there are updates or anything. They suspend your account and you cannot use Apple anymore.

I will start a new thread for this, but does anyone know how to keep Iphone, Ipad, and Itunes from "phoning home" to prevent this from happening.

I have the China Mobile SIM cut down and it works fine. They even sell little SIM cutters, like a punch, and SIM adapters in the phone stores.