Please Note:

Your China SIM Card (China Mobile) will require a SIM-unlocked GSM 900 compatible international cell phone. If you do not have your own international cell phone, we have several models available for rental or purchase.

Your China service will provide you with a China cellular phone number which will be printed on an information card contained within the prepaid SIM card packaging. The number will start with a 1.

*You will need to snap out the thumbnail sized China SIM card along the perforated edge of its holder and then insert the SIM card into your international cell phone with the gold contacts of the SIM card facing the metal contacts of your international cellular phone.

^The PUK is only required to unblock your phone if you enter in a PIN code incorrectly 3 times using your China cell phone. Your phone may or may not prompt you for a PIN code. Follow your cell phone manual instructions to correctly use the PUK to unblock your cell phone.

**When calling overseas from the United States to your China cell phone, callers will need to dial 011 followed by country code 86 and your China cell phone number. To call abroad from your China cell phone simply dial 00 followed by the country code and phone number.

Customer service for your China Mobile prepaid SIM card is available by dialing 14008200293

For emergencies while using your local China GSM SIM card in China please dial 112 from your cell phone. YUAN 0.6 (US$0.09)

All rates are per minute.

SMS text messages are US$0.17 per message.

International Calls

All international outgoing calls using your China SIM card and cell phone with the exception of Taiwan are charged at a flat per minute rate with your China SIM card. All international incoming calls are charged at a flat of $0.19 USD per minute regardless of where a call originates.

*Standard direct dial calls are 00 + country code + phone number from your China cellular phone.

SMS text messages are US$0.17 per message.

Roaming Calls (calls placed when traveling outside of the country)

Roaming is currently not available with your China service.

GPRS Data Rates (Wireless Internet)

GPRS is currently not available with your China service.

You can conveniently add airtime credit to your China prepaid SIM card over the phone by caling 1 400 820 0293, between the hours of 7:30 AM and 6:30 PM (China Time).

To recharge manually, please

If you do not recharge your account within the initial activity period of 24 months, your China prepaid SIM card will expire and all remaining airtime credit will be forfeit. The service life of your China prepaid SIM card may be extended indefinitely by purchasing and recharging airtime which, depending on their denomination, will provide a service life extension and all subsequent airtime credit will be carried over into the next validity period. Voucher Value Validity Period RMB 50 ($6 USD)

If the remaining airtime credit on your China SIM card drops below RMB 10, 60 seconds after connecting a call you will hear a beep as a warning and/or the call will disconnect immediately if there is no value remaining. China mobile will not print out phone charges. Customers can only check their remaining value by calling 13800138000.

More Information and Resources

Keeping in touch while in China can be very a frustrating and expensive experience without an international cell phone and China SIM card.

Sometimes a payphone takes coins (But how many is anybody's guess!!!), other times a proprietary calling card and still others only a credit card will do with accompanying instructions that would take a week to understand.

China cellular phone rentals can significantly cut down on the frustration of calling home while abroad but the airtime rates would bankrupt all but the thickest of wallets. Airtime rates for a China cell phone rental can typically start at $1.50 and may be as high as $2+/minute.

Think you got a deal on your world phone and plan on doing some international roaming? With international roaming charges the airtime rate you will pay is out of this world.

The China prepaid SIM chip is a quick and easy way to convert your existing world phone into a prepaid China cell phone for China and as discussed is more economical then a China cell phone rental. For your next assignment or vacation in China, this SIM chip (combined with an unlocked GSM World cell phone) helps you stay connected while avoiding those international roaming surcharges that always accompany your 'home' SIM card while abroad. We offer a growing selection of prepaid SIM Cards for other international destinations as well as a wide variety of GSM cell phone accessories and GSM international cell phones.