Mobile number portability trials start

Regulators allowed mobile phone users in Tianjin and Hainan to switch operators while retaining their phone numbers beginning Monday, state media reported. The pilot program is being conducted under the aegis of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and could pose a challenge to the mobile phone market leader, China Mobile (CHL.NYSE, 0941.HK). By contrast, the scheme, which facilitates users switching operators, could prove a boon to China Unicom (CHU.NYSE, 600050.SH, 0762.HK), the China carrier of Apple’s iPhone 4. With its 172 million users, the company currently lags China Mobile’s 575 million members, but is ahead of China Telecom’s (CHA.NYSE, 728.HK) 83 million subscribers. The trial phase in the two cities will end in six months, when ministry officials will review the results and take further measures.