Use GPRS in Shanghai

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I received query about GPRS today from Boris in Germany:

I like your weblog, lots of interesting information in it :-) Thanks for that!

I have read your messages about mobile phones in china. Now I am interested if you have any more details on GPRS. I have heard that there are different flat rates in China for about 200yuan / month with umlimited traffic and roaming within china. I really can’t believe that but maybe you can comment on that.

200 RMB / Month for unlimited traffic

The good news is, at the time this article is written, it is true. Here is what the Shanghai Mobile announced on their Chinese website.

Monthly fee: 0 RMB, then 0.03 RMB/KB

Monthly fee: 20 RMB for 1MB, 0.01RMB/KB

Monthly fee: 100 RMB for 20MB, 0.01RMB/KB

Monthly fee: 200 RMB for unlimited GPRS access

There is no roaming fee if you use GPRS in other cities.

26 thoughts on “Use GPRS in Shanghai”

  1. Yeah. That is true, pretty expensive huh.. :(

    I’ve tried, the connection is fine and reliable, but too much expensive.

    You can try 17201 mobile data dialup, which costs 0.10RMB/min. but however, China-Mobile has a bundle that if monthly total charge reach 30RMB and less then 50RMB, the service provider only charges you 30RMB. if the total charges reachs more then 50RMB, for example 60RMB, you will need to charge 40RMB eventually.

  3. Ok. you just need to go to the China-Mobile official business shops and register the new function transaction under your mobile account. Remember to take your ID card,Password card of your e-tong card w/ you for the registration.

    The 17201 is much cheaper than GPRS, if you just want to use it when travelling. I once used 17201 on a boat on Yangtze River when I was doing some field data collection there :) pretty cool!!~~ ;)

    Please let me know your result of the application :)

    Good Luck.

    BTW, Take a look at my blog which i just setup when you got some time.

    My personal blog is at http://blog.hithat.com

  4. Oh. Billy. It is you! I didn’t realize that my old friend, lovely you, also started the blog. Thanks for referencing mine in your MovableType seciton.

  6. Hi there,

    Just want to share you with this:

    I’ve been traveling in Tibet this summer(2003) and was using #17201 to connect to the Internet with my laptop. It’s great because you can always do so whenever there is a cellphone signal available. But it was sloooooow. With 9.5k access rate I’d rather use the one in the Internet Cafe which is always available if you are in a county. However, once you were in a small village, 9.5k is definately better than nothing.

    On the contrary, GPRS DOES NOT always come with a cellphone signals. Better check with your provider about the GPRS coverage before you set off to a remote area.:)

    Hope this is helpful.

    emu

  9. thanks for the great pieces of information you are providing on this site.

    I was wondering whether I could use this competitive GPRS offer when staying in shanghai for 5 days in may.

    is it now actually available also for Pay-as-you-go Sim cards?

  10. If you get an E-Tong prepaid card, you will also have GPRS access. Not sure if it is turned on by default or not but you can definitely enable GPRS by calling 1860 to speak to China Mobile customer service. They have an English-speaking service line as well and can help you with any settings that you need to put into your phone. However, the 200 RMB unlimited access package doesn’t exist anymore…. it has changed to only 500 MB of data transfer which really sucks! It’s pretty easy to go through 500 MB — the connection speed is pretty good though.

  11. Hi,

    I am trying to connect to the internet on my laptop through my mobile phone. I have heard of the 17201 service which is offered, but what user name password does it require (if any). Do I have to register somewhere for this service ?

    I would appreciatly a reply.

    Thank You

    Ross.

  12. I will go to Shanghai this fall, and I am also looking for a (cheap) internet solution.

    So I was wondering wether there are (free) WiFi hotspots you can use?

    And if not, what is the best way for GPRS?

    As Ted posted, the 200RMB unlimited access changed to 500Mb.

    But is it still 200RMB ?

    500Mb is enough for a week for me :-)

    And how can I get this? Prepaid card? And where can I buy it?

    I really hope there are cheap (or free) Wifi accesspoints, so I can use Skype to phone home.

  13. Hi …

    its really great for me that i am in china these days..so no doubt i am using China Mobile but the problem which i am facing is that i want to use GPRS on my mobile(palm treo 650 cingular)but i dont know how i will activate this..there is a network section in my palm and on APN i put “cmwap” but its not wroking if there is anyother setting in it please update me… main problem is that i called on 10086 but its useless for me coz i m indian and their communication is in Chinese yaah i understand lil bit but its difficult for me to operate on my Palm… so please suggest how i get these settings..

    Regards

    Manish Malhan

  14. HI FRIENDS,

    I AM IN CHINA THESE DAYS. I HAVE BOUGHT A CHINA MOBILE PREPAID SIM CARD AND GET RMB 20 INTERNET SERVICE ACTIVATED. I AM HAVING HP IPAQ 6515 MODEL. I AM NOT ABLE TO USE INTERNET ON MY HANDSET. PL ADVISE ME HOW TO USE INTERNET.

    REGARDS,

    SAURABH

  15. hi,saurabh

    you need install HP software,and your china mobile card must have GPRS function.

    shirley

  16. I WAS USING GPRS IN SAME MOBILE IN INDIA. ALL THE SOFTWARE IS INSTALLED AND MY CHINA MOBILE IS ACTIVATED WITH GPRS AND THEY HAVE CHARGED RMB 20 FOR THIS. PL HELP ME.

    REGARDS,

    SAURABH

  17. hello,

    you call the 10086(china mobile company(shanghai )).

    you’d better ask chinese help you.

    they (10086)will send information to your mobile,you install the parameter.

    shirley

  18. i have gprs activated on my mobile. i want to make dial up connection thru blue tooth and connect to my laptop. can u advise which no i have to use it and what will be user name and password for that.

    regrds,

    saurabh

  19. Hello,

    I have a HP IPAQ 6515 with China mobile, the SIM card works ok on other phones.

    But it doest not work on my HP ipaq.

    Please advise if there any special setting for the HP ipaq.

    Thanks,

    Ri Liang

  20. I read comments of Shirley on subscribing to China Mobile through 10086. I’m in Beijing. I did that. My Treo 650 connects with my 13718… mobile number. (The Tower Signal gets a Blue Arrows added to it). However, I am unable to connect to any website or email service (I followed all setup guide lines of Treo). If Shirley or somebody else has done this successfully, please let me know how to configure my connection. Thanks.

  23. Call Shanghai Mobile and request to subscribe to their 12593 IP phone services. Call to US to Singapore only RMB0.40 per minute.

  24. Id love to know what the MMS settings are for GoTone…

    Even wap isnt working for me and I have a Shanghai GoTone now… finding the web for this seems impossible as foreigner ;-)

  25. Somebody know how to set up a palm treo 650 to receive and send MMS in Shanghai?

    Thanks

    Leo

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