Voicemail and Cell Phone Contracts

Do you consider voicemail a technology of the past or present?

How many of you hate checking your voicemail, whether it be on your cell, home phone, or office?

If you hate voicemail, you might be more Chinese than you think. In fact, the Chinese hate voicemail so much that they decided to do away with it completely!!!

At first glance, being the semi-ignorant American that I sometimes pretend not to be, I thought that China's technology was just not advanced. But, the more I think about it, they have a point.... they tried it, hated it, and banned it.

+1 Point for China! GO CHINA!
+2 Points! No Cell Phone Contracts!

There's no real cell phone contract system in China. Although contracts do exist, majority of people use cell phones as follows...

Steps to using a cell phone in China:

1. Purchase a SIM card
-At an authorized cell phone provider
-or-
-A tiny rundown shack on the street

2. Purchase minutes for your cell phone
-Purchase a prepaid calling card
-All cell phone usage in China are through prepaid minutes
-Prepaid cards can be purchased at any small convenience store

3. Adjust your language
-Everyone in China uses the term mobile phone, in lieu of cell phone
-Pronounced mo-BILE, like the toxic waste that excretes from your body

4. Remember that when you purchase your calling card and SIM card you must specify which provider you want
-Only 2 cell phone providers in China
a) China Mobile
b) China Unicom

5. In order to dial internationally, you must call your provider for initial access, otherwise you can get ready for the moment you have been waiting for...dialing your first local call.

6.Always remember, whether you are calling someone or answering a phone call, be polite and always greet the person properly...by yelling at the top of your lungs, repeatedly.........WEI??????