For those who will be in Beijng for a short time, visitors, business travelers, tourists.

Step 1 Selecting a mobile phone

A. If you wish to use your own phone 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.

B. If your phone does not fit the description above, here are some tips on purchasing a cell phone in Beijing :

+ purchase it at a licensed China Telecom Service provider

+ purchase it at a licensed mobile handset store

+ 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

Step 2 SIM card

For those who have a short stay in Beijing and/or just need a handset, pre-paid service is recommended at Easyown of China Mobile ( Beijing ), Ruyitong of China Unicom( Beijing ) and, 133 Pre-paid Card of China Telecom ( Beijing ).

Step 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.

Step 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)

Homepage URL: http://wap.ebeijing.gov.cn

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.

1.What is eBeijing Mobile?
EBJ, online at wap.ebeijing.gov.cn, is a WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) version of www.eBeijing.gov.cn for designed to be accessed with a mobile phone. EBJ offers cultural, resident, and visitor information. Just bookmark http://wap.ebeijing.gov.cn, or add it to your favorites folder on your phone for surfing next time. For complete information on Beijing, please visit www.eBeijing.gov.cn online.

2.What is WAP?
WAP, short for Wireless Application Protocol, is a simplified wireless Internet protocol. It is a way to receive simple web pages on your phone. WAP combines the Internet and mobile phone technologies to enable users to access the Internet with a cell phone at any time.

3.Which mobile service providers in Beijing support WAP?
WAP service is available from three mobile service providers in Beijing: China Mobile (Beijing), China Unicom (Beijing), and China Telecom (Beijing).The former two adopt the GSM network and the latter one adopts the CDMA network. The customer service hotline of China Mobile (Beijing) is 10086, China Unicom (Beijing) 10010, and China Telecom (Beijing) 10000.

4.How can I access the Internet with my cell phone?
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.

5.What is GPRS?
GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), is a network that allows GSM mobile phones to access the Internet. After applying for GPRS service, a GSM card holder can access the Internet at any time. Most GSM mobile phones purchased in China have GPRS already configured. If the mobile phone needs to be configured, please call the mobile operator, visit a licensed mobile phone dealer, or call the mobile phone manufacturer.

6.Is there any charge for the EBJ service?
EBJ does not charge any fee, it is a free service provided by the government of Beijing. Your mobile phone operator may charge fees for your access to the internet. Various GPRS service packages are available. Please call the customer service hotline for details.

7.Can GPRS service “roam”to other networks?
GPRS roaming is free wherever GPRS service is available in China. This means that anywhere your phone works (which is just about everywhere) you can access the internet with no extra fees. You can send pictures or live videos directly to your friends at home from the Great Wall, from the Forbidden city, or from a mountain top in Tibet.

Mobile operators will charge a roaming fee for international roaming, for example, if you are using your China mobile provider to access the internet while in another country. China Mobile for example has established international roaming business relationships with many countries. When customers of China Mobile roam to those areas, the handsets automatically search the local mobile service provider and then see if GPRS service available. For international roaming areas and terms of service for mobile service providers, please call their customer service numbers.

8.What is a TD international card?
TD-SCDMA (Time Division-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access), is a standard for 3G in China. It is available from China Mobile in several cities. A TD-SCDMA pre-paid card called "Beijing 2008 USIM", designed to be economical and easy to use, was first provided for foreigners by China Mobile during the Beijing Olympic Game period. For more information about the Beijing 2008 USIM, please visit:
http://tdtest.chinamobile.com/product/pro_tdgj_en.html.

9. How can I get more information about Chinese mobile service providers?
China Mobile (Beijing): http://www.chinamobileltd.com/?lang=en     Dial 10086
China Unicom (Beijing): http://www.bj.chinaunicom.com/     Dial 10010
China Telecom (Beijing):http://www.bjtelecom.net/index.php    Dial 10000