Editing China (section)

== Phone and communication: ==
In China, there are 3 mobile phone networks, all of which are owned by the same state-owned entity.

While more than 90% of the SIM cards sold in convenient stores across the country can call/receive calls everywhere in China, in some provinces there are certain SIM cards that you can only call/receive calls from within the same province (at a cheaper rate).

'''Voice Calls'''

For the most common type of SIM card, you are charged only for making calls.  However, for some SIM cards (which are usually cheaper), you are charged for both making calls and receiving calls.  Do check the package or to ask the shop owner when you purchase.

''National roaming'' - Every card has an "issuing province".

#For making calls, the calling rates for intra-province (cheaper) and inter-province are different.
#When you are picking a call on your "province A sim card" when you travel to province B, you are charged an extra inter-province roaming surrcharge. 

'''Data usage'''

If you are staying in China only for a short time (say, less than 9 months).  Your best (and only) option is to get a pay-as-you-go GPRS/3G internet card.

Most GPRS/3G internet data plan require you to sign up for 12 months or more and that you pay a huge deposit.

There is no short-term (10-day or 1-month) data package.  The group has been asked many times:-
http://www.couchsurfing.org/group_read.html?gid=111&post=9998364
http://www.couchsurfing.org/group_read.html?gid=111&post=9986918