China Mobile to subsidize TD-SCDMA (China-developed 3G standard)handsets

China Mobile to subsidize TD-SCDMA (China-developed 3G standard) handsets. China Mobile has decided to subsidize TD-SCDMA (China-developed 3G standard) handsets. China Mobile has procured 60,000 TD-SCDMA handsets. The second round, finished recently, involved procurement of 200,000 handsets and the company may additionally order 40,000 TD-SCDMA plus CMMB (China mobile multimedia broadcasting) phones. China-based makers/vendors, including ZTE, Postcom, Amoi and Hisense, together landed orders for 170,000 handsets and international vendors including Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics and Motorola accounted for the remaining 30,000 units.

For its sales promotion, China Mobile will thus subsidize purchases of TD-SCDMA handsets by 1,000-1,500 yuan (US$146-219) per handset, approximately 60% of the purchase prices. China Mobile will absorb charges on TD-SCDMA subscribers' use of certain communication services during the Olympic Games.

(source)