China Unicom to Launch Fixed-Line Video Phone in Guangdong
New Express, 9/10/09
China Unicom (NYSE: CHU; 0762.HK; 600050.SH) representatives have revealed that a fixed-line video phone should be available in Guangdong before the end of this year. The phone operates similarly to a fixed-line telephone set, but connects to the network via broadband instead of a regular phone line. Users can not only make calls to other users with the same video phone, but also to China Unicom 3G handset users.
The video phone can also send and receive SMS to China Unicom subscribers as well as users on other networks, and has a multimedia information system allowing users to inquire about news, weather and stock quotes from the login screen. A China Unicom employee explained that the phone also includes a payment system. Once a subscriber opens a payment account, they can "swipe" their bank or credit card to pay utility bills from home.
The phone began trials in Beijing this August, where users were offered a free video phone unit on the condition that they commit to a video calling plan for at least one year. Subscribers pay a RMB 25 monthly fee, with local calls costing RMB 0.20 per minute, local long-distance calls costing RMB 0.40 per minute, and sending of SMS messages costing RMB 0.10 each.
Keywords: China Unicom fixed-line broadband telecom telephone video calling SMS Guangdong 0762.HK 600050.SH CHU tariffs
Sending
