CHINA Mobile's third generation trial service debuted to crowds in Shanghai today as shoppers snapped up TD-SCDMA cell phones and tested audio and video services of the new technology.

The TD-SCDMA (time division-synchronous code division multiple access) cell phones of Samsung, Lenovo and LG were sold out at Shanghai Mobile's outlet on Renming Road in the city's Huangpu District.

The outlet had sold about 30 phones by 4pm today.

People can subscribe to the TD-SCDMA services with a mobile number starting with 157 in Beijing, Tianjin, Shenyang, Shenzhen, Qinhuangdao, Xiamen, Shanghai and Guangzhou starting today.

All of the cities will host Olympic events this summer.

Shanghai has about 10,000 3G phones available on the market. All the phones were made by six handset firms, including ZTE, Samsung and Lenovo.

The 3G phones will cost between 1,800 yuan (US$256.78) to 3,800 yuan.

With a base of 50 yuan as the monthly fee, each call with TD-SCDMA phones will cost users 0.40 yuan a minute and the recipient faces no charge. The 30-megabyte data services cost 10 yuan each month and people can choose higher data packages of up to 300 yuan for eight gigabytes.

Users can choose packages costing from 28 yuan for 150 minutes to 88 yuan for 600 minutes. During the commercial trial, users can enjoy a 50-percent fee discount, which makes 3G costs close to 2G services, according to China Mobile.

Most 3G services -- from video conferencing, film downloads and multinational games -- are data rich, depending on high-speed networks.

TD-SCDMA is a 3G technology developed by China. Its maturity will lead to the regulator issuing 3G licenses, including TD-SCDMA, CDMA2000 and WCDMA (wideband CDMA), according to industry insiders.

Many areas in Shanghai, including the Pudong New Area, highways, Metro lines 1 and 2 and stadiums have TD-SCDMA signals.

[www.shanghaidaily.com]