Shoppers test 3G phones and data cards at a China Mobile outlet in Shanghai yesterday, when the carrier officially started to trial the use of networks based on the China-developed TD-SCDMA technology in eight cities.

China's new 3G phones debuted in Shanghai yesterday with flashy functions that attracted crowds of shoppers, even though sales were only moderate.

A limited variety of models and the public's unfamiliarity with the 3G technology affected the first day of the commercial trial, industry sources said.

People can purchase the TD-SCDMA (time division-synchronous code division multiple access) phones and subscribe to 3G services, with a number starting with 157, from China Mobile.

From early yesterday, people crowded into Shanghai Mobile's Renmin Road shop, one of the carrier's two main TD-SCDMA outlets. The available phones were made by six firms, including ZTE, Samsung, Lenovo and LG, and they cost from 1,800 to 3,800 yuan (US$256 to US$535).

By 4pm, Samsung and Lenovo phones were sold out in the Renmin Road outlet. By evening, about 50 3G services had been sold in the other outlet on Zhangwu Road near Tongji University.

Customers were most impressed with eyeball-catching functions such as mobile stock quotes, video calling and TV on the handsets. During a video-calling demonstration, callers could clearly see each other but image quality was lost if they were moving.

The TD-SCDAM signal offers coverage within the city's Outer Ring Road, at the airports, around the Formula One circuit and hotels, and along Metro lines.

China Mobile has launched the 3G service in eight cities including Guangzhou and Beijing. In Shanghai, the carrier will sell the phones in 164 outlets, with the first batch expected to be about 10,000 units.

The 3G network is not available in other cities but users can switch to 2G networks there, outlet officials said.