MORE than 3 million prepaid China Mobile subscribers in the city using the company's M-zone package can enjoy free incoming calls from as early as Thursday (Feb 9), representatives of the operator said at a press conference yesterday.

The new tariff will also apply to M-zone users in other cities in Guangdong Province.

On Feb. 1, all China Unicom users and China Mobile's postpaid GoTone subscribers started receiving free incoming calls.

"All new M-zone subscribers after Feb. 8 will enjoy the free incoming call service automatically, while current users have to send a text message ¡®BLYY' to 1860 to apply for it," said Wu Xiaobo, marketing director of China Mobile's Shenzhen branch.

Under the new scheme, M-zone subscribers need to pay at least 19 yuan (US$2.5) monthly for a service package which includes free incoming calls, 130 free text messages and a free ringback tone. This is nine yuan higher than the current lowest scheme which costs only 10 yuan for 130 free text messages.

However, the new tariff will only take effect on the billing date after the application is made. For most users, the date will be March 1.

Wu expects the move will save subscribers an average of 20 to 30 percent monthly.

"We expect the fees lift on incoming calls will encourage subscribers to use the mobile service more and to promote our ringback tone and other value-added services," he told the Shenzhen Daily.

He admitted the free incoming call service would cost the company a certain amount of money, as it would need to pay for calls from landline operator China Telecom and its rival China Unicom.

However, a Shenzhen Daily reader surnamed Liu questioned whether the new tariff could bring real benefit to mobile users.

Editor: Wing