China Mobile Communications' branch in southwestern Guizhou province is launching a trial run of a controversial calling-party-pays one-way billing system despite an official ban.
Analysts believe the move is aimed at boosting sales.
An official at Guizhou Mobile Communications, a subsidiary of the dominant mobile operator, confirmed the branch would offer calling-party-pays services between May 17 and July 13, Xinhua News Agency reported yesterday.
An official at the branch said the trial was a promotional offer to celebrate the official launch of general packet radio service [GPRS] - a 2.5 generation mobile service - on May 17.
During the promotion period, Guizhou Mobile's users who received roaming phone calls from other China Mobile users would not be charged, the firm's marketing manager Li Bo said.
Guizhou Mobile's promotion has aroused fresh concerns over full implementation of the controversial one-way billing system on a nationwide basis.
