Chinese telecom operator China Mobile has officially started the sales of its Ophone handsets in Shanghai and launched a promotional activity at the same time.

During this promotion, users who buy the Ophone handsets from China Mobile Shanghai's designated business halls or from the designated stores of D.Phone will gain a subsidy of CNY1,800, including CNY1,500 communication fee subsidy and CNY300 new service fee subsidy.

According to China Mobile Shanghai, the promotion will last until October 28, 2009. The communication fee subsidy will be returned to users CNY100 per month, lasting for 15 months; and the new service fee subsidy will be given to users as a CNY20 package, including mobile phone video service and the 139 email box service, lasting for 15 months.

The company stated there will be no minimum consumption limit for users participating in this promotion.

With Google's Android mobile phone operating system, Ophone handsets are based on the Ophone platform developed by China Mobile. So far, six mobile phone makers, including Lenovo, LG, Dopod, Dell, Philips, and Hisense, have launched their Ophone handsets.