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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, August 12, 2002

Single Cross-Strait SIM Mulled by Mobile Giants

A single operational cross-Strait SIM with three local phone numbers on representing Taiwan, Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland for bringing down high cross-Strait roaming costs is being actively mulled by Taiwan-based Chunghwa Telecom, HK CSL and China Mobile. As told, such a cross-Strait SIM is to be put out by the yearend with which cross-Strait commuters' communications and exchanges will be greatly facilitated across the Taiwan Straits.


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A single operational cross-Strait SIM with three local phone numbers on representing Taiwan, Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland for bringing down high cross-Strait roaming costs is being actively mulled by Taiwan-based Chunghwa Telecom, HK CSL and China Mobile. As told, such a cross-Strait SIM is to be put out by the yearend with which cross-Strait commuters' communications and exchanges will be greatly facilitated across the Taiwan Straits.

Customers would find themselves wherever and whenever on phone with a cross-Strait SIM on him, according to Taiwan Chunghwa Telecom on August 11.

But nothing specific has been told of the SIM service designed so far. "For I have got no details. It is merely a matter I have heard," said a responsible person with China Mobile Group.

However, insiders say that when should cross-Strait SIM service be made available it would bless all cross-Strait commuters and travelers not to say businesspeople with all possible convenience from the Chinese mainland, Taiwan and Hong Kong. In recent years, an increased number of investors have descended on the mainland from Taiwan and Hong Kong. Data shows already in areas on the periphery of Shanghai a population of over 300,000 businessmen from Taiwan. Communications have cost them much money on roaming service in China's Taiwan, Hong Kong and the mainland. Things would be otherwise and past inconveniences would be found nowhere for them on phone across the Taiwan Straits in the days when should they with the help of a cross-Strait SIM be exempted from lots of fees on roaming service.

There are also some people put the query: How much money can the customers be saved with a cross-Strait SIM? Is it more convenient or inconvenient? Mr Zhong who has lived in Hangzhou for some years from Taiwan said, "If cross-Strait SIM service can save me money from roaming service I will buy SIM. Mr. Zhong has also got his mainland and Taiwan mobile phones numbers on which he has to spend a lot of money. "If cross-Strait SIM costs me more or less the same amount of money I would still keep on use of my phone numbers from Taiwan and the mainland. Cross-Strait SIM service should better bring no more trouble," he said.

Insiders also say that international mobile phones tend to use a unified phone number in today's world. He hopes for a unified number to be used around the world. Is cross-Strait SIM service opposed to this trend? A CEO from a provincial telecom provider thinks that the service will bring a lot of convenience to the users. But whether the service is applicable it depends on the costs involved and world development trend. It may be developed as a transitory means of cross-Strait three-area telecom service, he said.

By People's Daily Online


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