Will Beijingers Lose Their Cell Phone Numbers?

It seems the net is tightening on unregistered cell phone users in Beijing after "the big three" (China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom) announced that from September 1, all cell phone users will have to register their real name when they purchase a new SIM card.

"Unlucky new SIM suckers, I already have my SIM card and there ain't a damn thing those companies can do about it." That was my first thought, too, but it seems existing customers will also feel the clamp down.

Charles Custer writes on the Tech in Asia website that old customers "who haven't registered by Sep 1 will likely see adjustments made to their plan that prevent them from adding or subtracting services."

"Pfft, I don't care. I don't need to change anything about my current plan anyway. There ain't a damn thing those companies can do about it." Wrong again. Maybe. Custer suggests the changes could affect existing customers with them ultimately having their accounts frozen altogether.

Of course, all this unpleasantness could easily be avoided by taking your passport along to your provider's local branch and registering your real name. But maybe you don't like "the man" having your details. Or maybe, like me, you just couldn't be arsed.

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