If You Think Your Cell Phone Company Is Ripping You Off, They Probably Are
Cell phone service in China is a dream come true. So easy! So cheap! I have a hard time believing cell phone service in America/Canada needs to be as expensive and complicated as it is.
Here you simply buy a cell phone (in Mandarin: 'hand machine'), any brand, any model. Then, visit a mobile company kiosk to buy a SIM card. (I use China Mobile.) The SIM card costs about $7.00 and includes your phone number and about 2 months worth of service. You pop it into your phone, and you're done. If you want a new phone, you just put your SIM card into your new phone. No hassle, no contracts, no going to the cell phone store to have it changed for you. I dread going back to America and dealing with locked phones.
My monthly cell phone charge is about $3.00. This week I added internet access to my cell phone; it costs 70 cents a month. 70 cents! Suck it, Verizon.
P.S., I did the shopping activity again today with a different class. One of the groups raised their hand and said they were out of money, could they have more? Ha! So I guess yesterday's class was maybe being modest?
Here you simply buy a cell phone (in Mandarin: 'hand machine'), any brand, any model. Then, visit a mobile company kiosk to buy a SIM card. (I use China Mobile.) The SIM card costs about $7.00 and includes your phone number and about 2 months worth of service. You pop it into your phone, and you're done. If you want a new phone, you just put your SIM card into your new phone. No hassle, no contracts, no going to the cell phone store to have it changed for you. I dread going back to America and dealing with locked phones.
My monthly cell phone charge is about $3.00. This week I added internet access to my cell phone; it costs 70 cents a month. 70 cents! Suck it, Verizon.
P.S., I did the shopping activity again today with a different class. One of the groups raised their hand and said they were out of money, could they have more? Ha! So I guess yesterday's class was maybe being modest?
Comments
My phone is under our business contract (with about 40 phones) But I take care of my girls phones...they have limited talk time, but unlimited texting. IT costs us $120.00 a month. THat is the cheapest I could find!!! Damn alltel. ;(
Funny about your shopping lesson...
Man. That's cheap. Mine costs me CAD 110.00 a month with unlimited everything including internet/texting yadda yadda, but let's just say I no longer have a land line because the cost was prohibitive.
Also, my last job was with a cell company. Since my severance benefits ended, I am now having to pay for service and its sucks...I wish I could find cheaper service. I think I will go to Verizon..but would love a $7 bill :))
Sigh.
Canada cellphone companies gouge the life out of its users, it's disgusting! It's CHEAP in the USA compared to here and now that I know about China's rates...
*cries*