China Unicom readies less expensive data plans

Looking to jumpstart adoption of 3G service, China Unicom Ltd. (CHU) is expected to unveil less expensive service plans later this month, according to Dow Jones Newswire.
Citing a statement from China Unicom’s parent company China United Network Communications Group Co., the new postpaid plans will begin at around $7 per month compared with current pricing that begin at around $10 per month. China Unicom is currently the only carrier in China offering Apple Inc.’s iPhone 4.
China Unicom counted nearly 164 million mobile customers at the end of October, including just over 11.6 million customers subscribed to its 3G service.
Analysts have noted that adoption of 3G services has been slower than expected, though surveys indicate that Chinese consumers are interested in mobile Internet services.