BEIJING-Nokia has launched its new 7650 handset in China, just weeks after Sony Ericsson started selling its MMS-capableT68ie model. China Mobile will launch its MMS service in major Chinese cities later this month. Beginning next year, all Nokia handsets will be equipped with MMS functions, enabling subscribers to send and receive e-mail and download music and video files.
But the new functions come at a price. Nokia’s new handset sells for CNY5,380 (US$650). Some ordinary phones sell at below CNY1,000 (US$121). Sending a text SMS message costs only CNY0.1 (US$0.01), but a multimedia message will probably be priced between CNY0.5 (US$0.06) and CNY1 (US$0.12).
SMS is very popular in China, but price-conscious consumers may be less eager to fork out 6 to 12 times more money to send sounds and pictures.
