China Unicom has officially put the world's first dual-mode mobile phones, which function in both GSM and CDMA networks, on the domestic market.

China Unicom launched sales of the first 400,000-plus dual-mode phones it purchased directly from the manufacturers across the country Friday. The phones are expected to sell out by December, said Wang Jianzhou, chairman and president of China Unicom.

The new-type mobile phones, priced between 4,500 yuan (about US$542.17) and 4,800 yuan (about US$578.31), enable users to switch between GSM and CDMA networks easily with just the push of a button.

It would allow customers to have the best of each world, the unique features of CDMA network and the vast coverage of GSM network.

Analysts say the new product will further strengthen the competitive power of China Unicom, the world's third largest mobile communications operator, which currently operates China's only CDMA network and second largest GSM network.

China Unicom lags behind China Mobile, the biggest mobile communications network in China, in terms of the scale and signal coverage of its GSM network.

Some people are attracted by the technological features of the CDMA network, including low radiation and information security as touted by China Unicom, but are dissatisfied with its limited signal coverage in China.

"It's a hard choice. You have to choose between new technology of CDMA and the convenience of GSM," said Zhou Sheng, a university teacher in Beijing.

As an expedient means, some people carry a CDMA mobile phone of China Unicom and a GSM mobile phone of China Mobile at the same time.

Now with one phone, they could enjoy the advantages of both services.

China Unicom had more than 100 million subscribers of its mobile communications service by May 5. Of these, 22.56 million were CDMA users.
 
(Xinhua News Agency August 7, 2004)