Apart from making calls, sending short messages is the most frequently-used function for the 388 million mobile phone users in China. Emerging entertainment services like ringtone, music and games have become the value-added services that more and more mobile phone users choose to use.

Chinese mobile phone users had sent 274.38 billion short messages by Nov 2005, an increase of 40 percent over the same period of the previous year. The number is expected to near 300 billion for the whole year and revenue of 30 billion yuan would be generated. Multimedia message, ringtone and WAP service have flourished; mobile phone music has begun to show potentials and will gradually become an important source of revenue increase.

In 2005, revenues generated from new services account for 20 percent of China Mobile's gross revenue. Wireless music has become a new way for disseminating and enjoying music. More and more people have shifted their attention on MP3 and CD to mobile phone-based wireless music. Mobile phone has become an important music terminal. With the coming of the 3G era, more and more mobile phone users will opt to use value-added services.

By People's Daily Online