China mobile targets $150 handset to boost 3G

DALIAN: China Mobile, the world's largest mobile carrier by subscribers, said on Friday it hoped to soon have lower-cost handsets for its 3G service, as it tries to popularise the service based on a homegrown standard. The company is aiming to have handsets for its TD-SCDMA service selling for about 1,000 yuan ($146) each, versus the current 2,000 yuan to 4,000 yuan, Chairman Wang Jianzhou told reporters in a small group interview at the World Economic Forum in the northeast port city of Dalian.

Hong Kong-listed China Mobile has also previously said it would list in its home China market when the government announces new rules permitting such listings, which are now prohibited for companies like China Mobile technically based overseas.

Such listings are expected to be allowed as early as next year, and Wang said China Mobile has already begun the listing process. He added that he was confident of closing China Mobile's previously announced plan to buy a 12 percent stake in Far EasTone one of Taiwan's top three mobile carriers, which has been put on hold by current restrictions on such investments.