Taobao.com, the Internet shopping subsidiary of the Chinese B2B e-commerce group Alibaba, has announced that it will cooperate with China Mobile to launch a new mobile phone short message-based price comparison service. With this new service, mobile phone users will be able to inquire about the prices of goods sold on Taobao.com when they are shopping [...]

Chinese wireless giant China Mobile (CHL) is reportedly planning to spend more on 3G terminal subsidies in 2010. The company has tripled the amount of subsidies from the current year level and is expected to spend up to RMB30 billion (US$4.4 billion) next year. This move will enable the company to better compete with its Chinese peers in the domestic 3G space. China Mobile remains the leading player in the Chinese wireless market with 70% market share and more than 500 million subscribers. However, the company’s share of the new subscribers has dropped recently due to stiff competition from China Unicom (CHU) and the relatively new wireless player China Telecom (CHA) as they both operate internationally acclaimed 3G standard based networks. Leveraging its home-grown TD-SCDMA 3G standard, China Mobile launched its 3G network in early 2009, already covering 38 Chinese cities. The company currently ...

China Telecom (CHA), the largest Chinese fixed-line operator, has successfully tested Alcatel-Lucent’s (ALU) multi-carrier EV-DO (a 3G technology) wireless network based on the Revision B (Rev B) standard. The Chinese operator’s subsidiary Shanghai Telecom has reportedly installed the multi-carrier EV-DO solution, which significantly enhances network throughput and reduces data latency (using multiple carriers) to meet increasing customer demand for high-bandwidth applications.   The multi-carrier EV-DO Rev B network, which represents an upgrade from EV-DO Rev A, has demonstrated highly encouraging throughput levels in the lab test with peak download speeds reaching up to 9.3 megabits per second (Mbps). This will effectively enhance customer experience who subscribe to high-bandwidth wireless services including Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP), high definition video streaming and other multimedia applications.    Leveraging Alcatel-Lucent’s network infrastructure support, Shanghai Telecom became the first Chinese carrier to commercially launch a CDMA EV-DO network in China in March ...

Second-largest Chinese wireless carrier China Unicom (CHU) will officially launch commercial 3G wireless services on Oct 1, 2009 across 285 Chinese cities. This coincides with the company's launch date of Apple Inc.'s (AAPL) iPhone in mainland China. China Unicom initially announced that it will commence commercial 3G service roll out on Sep 28, 2009.

China Unicom launched commercial trials of its WCDMA technology-based 3G services in 56 cities (including Beijing and Shanghai ) in May 2009 and subsequently extended that to 44 more cities. The company also initiated commercial 3G trials in 168 more Chinese cities in August 2009.

To facilitate the deployment of its 3G WCDMA network, China Unicom has collaborated with Ericsson (ERIC) under a $700 million deal. The company has also announced that it will adopt a uniform 3G tariff package in an effort to reduce prices for its 3G customers. Moreover, China Unicom will

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China Unicom (CHU) has announced the launch date of iPhone in mainland China yesterday. The second-largest Chinese wireless carrier will unveil the popular smartphone on Oct. 1, 2009. Additionally, the company will launch 80 different types of handsets in October 2009 that will run on its 3G wireless network. China Unicom has set a retail price tag of approximately RMB5,000 ($732.50) per handset and will offer eight service packages, ranging from RMB126 ($18.5) to RMB 886 ($130) per month. Subscribers signing to long-term service plans will get subsidies of around RMB893 ($131) to RMB4,253 ($623). iPhone will be available in 8GB (gigabyte), 16GB, and 32GB versions. Along with its interim 2009 earnings release in late August, China Unicom announced a three-year agreement with Apple Inc (AAPL) to launch the iPhone in China. However, the distribution deal is not exclusive, thus opening the path for ...

Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology is ahead in the race as the most sought-after next-generation (4G) wireless network standard in the market. The 4G wireless networks are aiming to cope with substantial demand for high-speed wireless data services and mobile video. LTE is an IP-based modulation standard and a set of enhancement for the existing Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS). This technology has been pioneered by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), a telecom industry body comprising wireless carriers and equipment vendors who have been buying and selling the same proprietary products for years. Verizon Communication (VZ), the largest carrier in the U.S., and NTT DoCoMo (DCM), the largest carrier in Japan, are the first two companies to decide on implementing LTE–based networks by 2010. Vodafone (VOD), the largest mobile carrier globally on revenue count and AT&T (T) will implement LTE by ...

China Mobile (CHL), the largest wireless carrier in the world, continues to deliver healthy operating results as evidenced by strong subscriber accretion in 2008. As we approach the 3rd and 4th quarters of 2009, our opinion remains firm that the new competitive entities will face unanticipated challenges deploying and advancing services to levels and coverage delivered by China Mobile.

Accordingly, we assess that successful expansion into low-penetration rural regions of China coupled with aggressive 3G TDSCDMA service deployments in 2009, and customized mobile value-added services establish China Mobile as the dominant mobile provider, far ahead of its nearest competitors. Additionally, a strong balance sheet, strong free cash flow and sustainable dividends facilitate the company's efforts to weather economic volatility.

We maintain our Outperform rating even as we factor-in potential impacts of a more competitive landscape and a comparatively weaker Chinese economy though the end of 2009.Zacks Investment Research

China Unicom (CHU), the second largest wireless service provider in China, will offically commence the commercial roll-out of its 3G wireless services on Sept. 28, 2009 across 285 cities in China. The company will also offer nine 3G bundled service packages with monthly price ranging from RMB 98 ($14.34) to RMB 886 ($129.68). Following the overhaul of the Chinese telecom industry, the Chinese government issued three 3G licenses in early 2009 with China Unicom being awarded the license for WCDMA, a widely adopted 3G technology with approximately 70% share of worldwide 3G subscribers. China Unicom launched commercial trials of its 3G services in 56 cities (including Beijing and Shanghai) in May 2009 and subsequently extended that to 44 more cities. The company also initiated commercial 3G trials in 168 more Chinese cities in August 2009. China Unicom has already amassed 350,000 3G users across its network ...

China Mobile (CHL) is reportedly setting up a joint-venture with MediaTek Inc, Taiwan ’s leading handset chip manufacturer, to design and develop key components for its 3G handsets. The Chinese wireless giant is expected to have 70% stake in the joint-venture with MediaTek holding the rest. MediaTek is currently the world’s seventh largest chip maker and has significant presence in the Chinese handset market. Upon the partnership materializing, MediaTek will be a major chip supplier for China Mobile’s home-grown TD-SCDMA technology based 3G wireless handsets. This will facilitate China Mobile to secure customized chips for its proprietary 3G smartphone models (called Ophones). The companies have reportedly entered into an agreement in late August 2009 to jointly develop 3G TD-SCDMA technology. China Mobile is increasingly focused on exploring opportunities for technology collaboration with world’s leading handset and chip manufacturers. The company has recently entered into a ...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – September 1, 2009 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: China Mobile (CHL), Google (GOOG), Apple Inc. (AAPL), China Unicom (CHU) and Dell (DELL).

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Here are highlights from Monday’s Analyst Blog:

CHL Launches Ophone OS Platform

China Mobile (CHL) has reportedly launched its self-developed smartphone operating system platform today, known as the Open Mobile System (OMS). The Chinese wireless giant has also launched a line of handset models (called Ophones) based on its home-grown TD-SCDMA 3G wireless technology.

OMS is

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