China Mobile Renting Out TD-SCDMA Handsets

China Mobile released a TD-SCDMA handset rental service on August 1 in the ten cities where it is conducting first-round TD-SCDMA trial operation, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Qingdao. Rental fees, not including mobile service fees, are RMB 10 per day plus a deposit equal to the handset price. Users can rent and return handsets in any of the ten trial cities interchangeably, excepting Qingdao; handsets rented in Qingdao can only be returned to Qingdao or one specified Beijing business hall. China Mobile subsidiary Beijing Mobile is currently offering the service in 21 business halls. The mobile operator was originally expected to release the rental service on October 1.

Lisa