Calls to be get even cheaper

This is part of a world wide trend. China's telephone fees will continue to drop next year following a steady decrease over the past five years. This according to Wang Xudong, the minister of the Ministry of Information Industry, the country's top IT regulator.

China's telecommunications fees decreased 13.6% in 2007 and 53% over the past five years.

Wang Xudong said, 'Telephone fees are of wide concern in the society, and the level will continue to drop in 2008.'

There will be a free incoming call policy nationwide and the high roaming fee level will be severely trimmed in 2008.

Instead of focusing profits on voice communication costs, Chinese carriers will now try cash in on data-based services, from broadband video, ringtone download and mobile stock information.

In this they are right.

The mobile phone is more and more taking the place of the personal computer as an information provider. The illustration is of Wan Xudong at the demonstration of June, a 3rd generation multimedia and satellite digital mobile broadcasting service. He does not look over-encouraging.