Smartphone maker Xiaomi on Wednesday launched an MVNO service in China.
According to information released via the Website of MIUI – Xiaomi’s Android-based smartphone user interface – the service is called Mi Mobile.
It uses both China Telecom’s and China Unicom’s 2G, 3G, and 4G networks, and aims to simplify the process of signing up for a mobile service by offering just two SIM-only plans.
The first is a prepaid plan that charges CNY0.10 (€0.01) per voice minute, SMS, and megabyte of data. The second is the same as the first one except that it also comes with 3 GB of data and costs CNY59 (€8.30) per month.
Both tariffs do not charge for incoming calls and provide free roaming within China. Caller ID is also available for an extra CNY5 per month.
Xiaomi was one of several companies to receive MVNO licences last year from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).
Other notable companies included electronics maker Lenovo, contract device manufacturer Foxconn, over-the-to p video provider Youku Tudou, and Chinese white goods maker Hisense.
The move was aimed at fostering greater competition for the country’s big three telcos, China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom.
