- China Unicom recently announced that the company is set to launch 3G network based on WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) on September 28, which is expected to cover 335 cities by year-end 2009, rather than 285 cities as originally announced, the Sina News reported on September 4. By year-end 2009, the network coverage is estimated to include 45 million 3G users nationwide. To date, the total number of cities having WCDMA commercial trials has reached 268 cities.

Meanwhile, in the wake of the agreement signed between Apple and China Unicom over iPhones sales in China, Apple announced on August 31 that the agreement is a non-exclusive deal, Dow Jones reported on August 31. Apple declined to reveal the names of the companies that Apple is currently in talks with.

- Aiming to boost sales of OMS (Open Mobile System)-powered Ophones, China Mobile plans to launch a promotion program, offering subsidies of up to 2,000 RMB (US$294.1; US$1 = 6.8 RMB) per pre-paid Ophone user, which is nearly half of the price for Ophone, the SinoCast Daily Business Beat News reported on August 24. To date, approximately 10 companies have participated in the R&D of Ophones, including Lenovo Group, Dell, Dopod, Samsung, Motorola, LG, Coolpad, ZTE, Hisense, as well as TCL, according to the same source.