中国步入3G时代 消费者多数观望

China enters the 3G era, as China Unicom started trials of its high-speed network as the third and last mobile operator to offer the service. But consumers are still hesitating.

Wo! That's the 3G service package name for China Unicom, one of the nation's three leading mobile operators. It aims to wow customers with trials of its high-speed network which started Sunday.

China Unicom is the last operator after China Mobile and China Telecom to start a 3G service.

Mobile phones tailored to China Unicom's 3G service were also put on market.

Ren Zhiguo, consumer dept. manager of China Unicom, says, "the price of 3G phones range from 1100 yuan to 4000 yuan. Different consumers will find phones that suit their needs."

But customers are not rushing to 3G. Concerns include, price of packages, the need to get a new handset and limited 3G application.

In order to keep customers around, carriers promise to cut tolls and 3G phone prices.

Lu Xiangdong, vice president of China Mobile, says, "we need to cut our research and production costs for 3G phones through joint development projects. The aim is to bring the price of phones to less than 1000 yuan. I think we can do that by the end of this year or early next year."

Three operators are expected to invest 170 billion yuan in 3G network construction this year. Global experience show that 3G has not been very helpful in driving carriers' business growth.