A bright spot of the "High-Tech" theme of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games was the use of third generation or 3G mobile phone technology by Olympic committee officials, volunteers, delegates and visitors.

China independently developed and owns its own version of 3G technology known at 3G TD. China Mobile constructed and ran the 3G TD network, to serve the Olympics and to raise the reputation and help expand the use of TD.

China Mobile provided Beijing Olympic committee members with 15,000 TD mobile phones and SIM cards, along with 3 million RMB worth of free airtime fee and other communication services. China Mobile has also provided 100,000 3G TD mobile phones to members of the Olympic family, including those working in security, medical services and news photographers. It also provided visitors with the opportunity to rent one of 20,000 TD mobile phones.

China's 3G service lights up Beijing Olympics

A week before the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, medical volunteers, Olympic security volunteers, Olympic news reporters and some of the Olympic city volunteers were provided with 20,000 free 3G TD mobile phones by China Mobile. In Shanghai, China Mobile also provided the newest TD mobile phone for free to more than 1,000 Olympic volunteers and more than 300 Olympic Officials.

Prior to the Games, China Mobile presented 131 people from Liaoning Province who travelled to Beijing to be volunteers with free 3G TD phones and service packs. China Mobile also gave 1,700 volunteers in Liaoning and 3,000 volunteers in Shenyang a 3G TD terminal and phone card.

Providing service to the "Olympic Family"

China mobile provided experienced employees to offer expert advice on how to use the new generation mobile phone. China Mobile also set up special help lines the volunteers could call for assistance with their phones.

China Mobile selected service halls that were close to venues as depots were 3G TD phones could be repaired or exchanged.

China Mobile provides made-to-measure 3G-TD phones

China Mobile provided 20,000 3G TD terminals to visiting customers, especially those from overseas. China Mobile's 3G TD Olympic rental service included a "made-to-measure" TD Olympic Phone Card based on the visitor's home country and the International Olympic Card.

To help the customers learn more of 3G TD service, China Mobile promoted the service through TV commercials, newspaper ads and billboards. In Shandong Province, China Mobile also invited travel agencies to provide information about 3G TD rental services to their clients who were interested in trying out the new high-speed mobile phones.

Relative News