Calling code +86

The mobile phone market can be almost compared to selling fast, perishable fruits, as a model just purchased will be outdated within a short while. Prices usually drop dramatically just one month after their launch. A pay-as-you-go mobile phone can be purchased for 600-700rmb plus the cost of a sim card (e-tong cards are popular and widely available). Calls are cheap and you can find 100rmb stored value cards for mobile phones from most convenience stores. The operation for loading the stored value onto your phone is in English.

It's wise to keep the paperwork you get with your sim card to ensure you are buying the right stored value card for your particular service provider, as there are several operators competing in this frenetic marketplace. If you already have a mobile phone, you might find that Chinese sim cards will work in it just fine. This depends entirely on the model and make of your phone. Of course, you might even choose to keep your current service provider and pay your bill back in your home country. Although, costs for dialing and receiving are extremely high.

The network coverage across China is excellent and there are few places where you will fail to get a signal.

Internet TLD .cn

You may either connect your computer to the internet via a modem to your telephone line or, as most westerners do, via an ADSL broadband facility. Applications for telephone In both cases you need to inquire about any technical requirements for your computer. Additionally you must plan for either an additional telephone point or a cable point, which will be charged to you one time on installation.

Shanghai Telecoms will install Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) with no need to share the bandwidth with other users. Net surfing speeds will not be affected when other users log on and this service also enables users to use their phone and fax while the modem is running. The cost of this is RMB 130 per month (residences) but you get better deals if you pay a year in advance.

As mentioned above, lines can be a lot slower than in the States of Europe and you may have problems downloading emails. Most people find that their server is unable toInternet Cafe Shanghai cope with even a smallish number of incoming emails.
Users must regularly go to their web browser to view and organize their emails. By deleting a few, it is then usually possible to unblock the system and receive emails.

Most landlords will provide the ADSL service for tenants. Your service provider will supply you with an ADSL modem and connect your computer to it. Remember to keep the password and username they give you in a safe place - it is almost impossible to get issued with a new one.

Voltage is

220V / 50Hz

Plug types can vary, but the two narrow-pin plugs are most common.