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Xiaomi turns network carrier with its new hassle-free plans

Yash GargSeptember 22, 2015

Xiaomi has forayed into MVNO (Mobile virtual network operator) with its new Mi Mobile scheme which was launch alongside the Mi 4c earlier today.

As a virtual network carrier, Xiaomi won’t own the infrastructure it uses for its networks. But that shouldn’t matter to the end user anyway, because what Xiaomi are set out to do with Mi Mobile is the interesting bit.

The idea behind Mi Mobile according to Xiaomi is to ‘do away with complex carrier packages and offer a simple and transparent pricing structure’ to subscribers. Subscribers of Mi Mobile will get triple cut SIM cards, which means they’ll work with nano, micro and mini SIM slots.

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Plans will be of two kinds, bundles and pay-as-you-go billing. Here’s the info according to Xiaomi:

Pay As You Go:

• Supports China Unicom 2G/3G/4G

• RMB 0.10 (under US$0.02) per voice minute, SMS and 1MB data

• Available for sale on Mi.com starting September 23

3GB Data Bundle for RMB 59 per month (under US$10):

• Supports China Telecom 2G/3G/4G

• Equivalent to RMB 0.02/MB for data

• RMB 0.10 per voice minute, SMS or 1MB data exceeding 3GB

• Available in public beta starting October

It appears as though the Mi Mobile service will be limited to Xiaomi’s home market of China for now.

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About the author
Yash Garg
Yash is a blogger by profession, builder of things by passion and foodie by birth. You'll usually find him talking about technology, music, travel and the game of cricket on the streets of Pune when not busy writing or speeding his way through the country! Read more on retro handheld gaming on RETRO91
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It s not a new idea, many companies are doing it in europe
KHA
September 22, 2015
MVNO is new in CHINA!
Hiwyx
September 22, 2015
59RMB for 3GB is so cheap in China.
I’m paying around 50 for 1GB with Unicom.
Data is cheaper in Europe than in China, maybe Xiaomi will change this…
- Tajwar
  September 22, 2015
  Sometimes that’s what makes me feel lucky living in Italy i can get like 15gb around 30euro(33.3$)
  - Ibrahim Bahakim
    September 22, 2015
    Well we can get 2GB for only 20SR around 5USD monthly “Saudi Arabia. Each 1GB extra cost less than 3USD hehe
- Hiwyx
  September 23, 2015
  Well I just realized 3GB is for China Telecom (I first read China Mobile).
  This network is crap, and to use GSM based phones we need to stick to Unicom.
  Their unicom offer is not bad but only for light users. 1MB and 1min with the real unicom is 0.2RMB, and only 0.1RMB with Mi Mobile, but still, 1GB is like 100RMB which is non sense.
  They should do some package like they did for Mi-Telecom.

njren
September 22, 2015
If you’ve had mobile service in China for any length of time, your everyday life is inextricably linked -practically locked- to your number and carrier. Xiaomi can carve out a nice little space for itself with this service, but until the government allows portability (which is just this side of “not in a million years”), MVNOs in China will be limited to fighting over new subscribers or those adding a second (or third, or fourth) number. That’s still a lot of business, but not as earthshaking as it could be.
balcobomber25
September 23, 2015
I currently pay $30 a month in the US for unlimited everything (with a 5GB LTE cap). I use close to 6GB a month for data so it would actually be about the same price as this service. In Thailand I get unlimited everything for about $20 a month.
- Hiwyx
  September 23, 2015
  Inflation in China is going like crazy especially for mobile.
  Like package increase by 100% every 2 years, and they were on this slope for a couple of years.
  Lot of Chinese have cheap smartphones with crap package so they have to connect to wifi to enjoy it. That’s a bit ridiculous but there’s a complete lack of competition.
  - balcobomber25
    September 23, 2015
    Used to be like that when i firsr arrived in Thailand, but its a lot better now.