China United Telecom (China Unicom), the world's third biggest mobile telecommunications carrier, on Monday said it plans to launch mobile phone handsets with dual-band technology in mid-July that shares data and voice service between GSM and CDMA users.
An official with China Unicom said that users of the new handsets carrying both global system for mobile communication and code division multiple access SIM cards will be able to switch between both the networks, and enjoy roaming service in countries where only one of the networks is available.
The technology built by the company has passed the primary tests, he said.
The official said the introduction of the new handset will also help attract new mobile phone subscribers as Unicom's GSM and CDMA networks cover almost the whole Chinese mainland. Its mobile telecommunications users exceeded 100 million by May 5.
The company, China's second largest telecom carrier, is working to set the price of the new mobile phone handset at that of a CDMA mobile phone handset of the same category.