China Unicom’s joint SIM card collaboration with Chinese Internet giant Tencent, which includes an independent data package for the WeChat messaging service — called Weixin in China — has already amassed 700,000 users in the first 24 hours after starting preorders at midnight.
As we reported earlier, the SIM package is exclusive to Guangdong Province for now, which is where all of these new users are located. The SIM itself is available for 36 Yuan (roughly $5 USD).
Officially available starting August 8, the SIM package will come in three different options: RMB66, RMB126, and RMB10, which cost (in USD) $11, $21, and $1.60, respectively. The latter package includes 300MB of data per month but will also provide an additional 200MB per month through a promotional period that will last one year.
If you happen to be from or traveling to China and plan on spending most or all of your time in Guangdong Province, this could be a great option for you, especially if you’re needing an app to help you keep in touch with family back home. Of course, there are also quite a few global SIM cards that can be coupled with other voice, messaging, and push to talk applications to provide you with the best possible experience while abroad.