Having got my new China Unicom WCDMA 3G number, I was somewhat confused that (a) data service worked through my China Mobile settings (b) it didn’t work using the settings Unicom customer service provided, and (c) I found yet another set of settings that can be used.
Whilst I still don’t know why the above is true, I found the following:
1) Use China Mobile settings (APN: CMNET) for GPRS / 3G Data with no proxy works fine. MMS should be received using WAP profile (APN: CMWAP , MMSC: http://mmsc.monternet.com , Gateway or Proxy: 10.0.0.172. Port 80 for HTTP, port 9201 for WAP)
I don’t know if this is just compatibility, or a problem with China Mobile’s network.
2) The settings Unicom customer service now provide will only work through a proxy.
GPRS APN: 3gwap
WAP APN: 3gnet
- for both must set proxy through 10.0.0.172 . These settings provide support for web (HTTP) traffic only.
3) Older data suggests to use:
GPRS APN: uninet
WAP APN: uniwap
MMSC: mmsc.myuni.com.cn
- I use this and it works. No proxy needed for GPRS ; but use 10.0.0.172 (as above) for MMS. Works across all protocols (MSN, FTP etc…) unlike 3G settings.
Therefore if you have a China Unicom 3G card and have been given the new settings, don’t bother. It’s just more complicated, and using 3gwap non-HTTP based services will not work.
Note: I’ve subsequently discovered this site claiming that for certain applications like Mobile Television you must use the 3G settings. I haven’t tested.
Update: iPhone users will find that they can no longer change APN settings for China Unicom. Carrier settings are now auto detected upon insertion of SIM card and cannot be modified. Data therefore should just work.
I live in Shenzhen and tried the CU 3G network. I got it working with the APN uniwap and the MMSC settings you listed and added the proxy to the MMSC settings. It worked fine for me. Where I got messed up was the lack of information. Like they told me it would work in HK. “No problem” the salesman said. He didn’t mention the CU would want a deposit of RMB3000 to open IDD and Roaming service for my prepaid phone. The idea of making this huge deposit upset me greatly. THe second issue was that no one told me about their billing process and that I was getting my full data allotment for the month because of the date i signed u and i was going to be charged 10RMB for each megabyte over my limit. AND they never told me I could buy additional data plans or that those data plans can only be activated at the first of the month.
so i decided to buy another number from them through a local friend who can ope n the number for international roaming and calling for free and add a data plan at the end of this month so I can use it next month.
The 3G from CU is very fast and I was able to access all the same sites from my phone as at home.
I find China Mobile have a better policy regarding ‘wai di ren’ (外地人) or foreigners using their services. The RMB500 I paid China Unicom as a “deposit” is not used for deducting monthly fees but rather I must collect it six months later. I am told the same is the case with the RMB3000 for roaming activation.
With China Mobile, the RMB500 you pay to open your account is merely a prepay for your next few bills, as is the 3000RMB you pay for roaming. If you call the hotline (10086) after three months of using your GoTone (全球通) service as a foreigner and your account was in good standing, they will activate your roaming for free.
You’re right regarding the data plans – they should definitely have informed you. Data here is still quite expensive compared to many providers abroad which offer reasonable unlimited data plans.
hi. i just want to ask if there’s any broadband service provider in china?
i have a Huawei 160 HSDPA USB modem (unlocked) which I bought in the Philippines, and I’m wondering if China Mobile has the same service being provided?
Thank you
Hi Chris,
China Mobile operates 3G using the homegrown TD-SCDMA which the Huawei 160 (I assume, after a brief search online) does not support. However you can use it for GPRS/EDGE access.
You would be better off using China Unicom, which supports HSDPA over WCDMA.
The third provider, China Telecom, runs its 3G network using ED-VO (CDMA) – likely also not supported by your device.
Prices for all three networks are not cheap at the moment: on a standard voice plan, 5RMB gets you 30mb data monthly, whilst 20RMB gets you 150mb.
hey guys i live in nanjing i hav a blackberry8310 and my service provider is china unicom ….. i got my gprs activated but im not able to browse internet through my phone
the messge im gettin is ….your device doesnot currently have any browser configuration service book entries
…………
I just tried testing uninet and got 300kbps then tested 3gnet and got 1000kbps downloads. Didn’t need to put proxy in for either. From Chengdu.
Also comment about costs and deposits. I put 1000rmb towards international roaming. That was then used towards my bills. I did that for a trip to turkey last year. Worked fine there. They said it would stay active until the money went below 1000. I was in Thailand and Malaysia last week and it is still active even though I only have around 100rmb on it.
Condition:
Open UniCom Account at Data: 15 Oct 2010 in SZ
a. China UniCom 3G Data Only Plan
b. Pre-Pay 960RMB
c. Come with a ZTE USB Moderm
d. Come with a 64K SIM Card
APN=3gwap
Remember : Do NOT set Proxy and Port
1. I ever taught by UniCome Service Shop to set Proxy 10.0.0.172 & Port =80
2. Of course must fail if you follow and set it. Service shop struggle it for 90mins also fail
3. I come back Try & Error ,then OK.
4. I give feedback to them and they can’t explain.
My Speed Test Record (by Speedtest.net.com Android Version)
Condition: ( Server set to= Xiamen)
a. SZ Fu Tin Area
b. sunshine day, 20Floor building
c. HTC Fire Wild Android 2.1
d. Server=Xiamen
d. UniCom 3G Card
Result (unit in Mbps)
1. Ping=160ms Down=0.62, Up=0.12
2. ping=157ms Down=0.64, Up=0.15
3. Ping=168ms Down=0.52, Up=0.14
More information in Same Testing for Service provider = Three.com.hk
Condition:
Testing Program: Speed.net.com (iPhone version)
a. Mobile=iPhone 3 (not 3GS, or iPhone4)
Firmware=4.1 ,16G,
b. Network=3
c. Testing are = HK Taiwai area, 20Floor,
d. Time= 18Oct 2010, 21:10pm to 23:41pm
e. 10 Times
f. ave: Ping=505ms, Down=0.736Mbps ,Up=0.205Mbps
Conclusion:
a. 3 Said Download speed can achieve 1.x to 2.x =====> Fail
b. Compare with similar test done in MongKok , iPhone4, Service by Smartone-Vodafone Download Speed= 1.4Mbps , it is relative Low a lot. ( 1/2 speed)
c. I do similar test in the Railway Station from Law Woo to MongKok Stations
DownSpeed more Terrible ave =0.11Mbps to 0.15Mbps
RAW Date in Taiwai Area 20Floor
=======================
Ping Down Up
604 42 5
511 85 19
549 47 32
508 103 21
543 56 36
513 104 25
536 62 14
269 89 8
507 116 11
510 32 34
505 0.736 0.205 ( average)
Hello Guys !
I just brought China Unicom 3G/HSDPA Service on my Htc Hero. However i ‘m bit confused .
I can understand 3G/HSDPA got really good speed . i can say better than my WiFi !
But it uses too much data within a seconds . Before i was using EDGE .. Can i switch between EDGE & 3G/HSDPA ? i got 3G/HSDPA Settings in my APN Settings . if i put new EDGE Settings in my APN Can i switch anytime i want ?
Thanks In Advance ..-)
I don’t know about the Hero, but on iPhone you can turn the 3G on and off.
On the other hand, this has nothing to do with the APN. At least it doesn’t on both Unicom and China Mobile: 3G will be used, if activated, on all the APN’s I listed.
@- Terence
Thanks i shorted out . it got option just like iphone switch between 2g/3g ..
do anyone knows China unicom have voicemail service ?
Not a service I use i’m afraid. A quick search online reveals this snippet from a Shanghai Expat posting:
“10198, press 1 and then 3 to record and message and 1 to confirm”.
Hope that works!
Hi,
I’m visiting Zhengzhou city of China & have take a China Unicom 3G card to be used with the HTC Hero which I’m carrying from my home country, i.e., India. It’s not locked & I’m using it for calling now with this same card. I want to use internet on my phone for which I have tried all the API setting including that which was sent by helpline but in vain.
Can someone please let me know how I can get the connection working. I’m on Android 2.1.
Thanks & Regards
Masood Faruki
I don’t own an HTC Hero but regarding Android 2.1 I came across this post – see if it’s a similar problem you’re experiencing. http://androidforums.com/htc-droid-eris/58403-no-apn-configured-android-2-1-a.html
Very simply using 3gnet or uniwap should work for a China Unicom card. Are you sure that data has been enabled at the carrier? Have a Chinese speaking friend call China Unicom hotline 10010 for you to double check. Or try their English service directly.
Can somebody tell me, with setting I have to made?
Thanks
Beautiful!!!
Thanks for the help!!! I am going tomorrow to Guanzhou fair and I dont know what i would have done without google maps on the phone.
I’ve already have a China Unicom Sim Card with 3G packet data.
Because I changed my handset to Samsung S2.
Does everybody know what I have to do ?
How to fill in the mobile AP setting ?
Or I must register again with the china unicom operator ?
Thanks
3G should already be activated on your card, unless you have asked Unicom to disable your data. Also, APN should be automatic on many handsets – even without filling in, the Internet should work. However, if it doesn’t work, try using ‘uniwap’ and leave all other settings blank.