cell phone service

[Bruce]

I will be working in Hefei for a year or so and wonder about people's experience with cell phones. Do you use a local company? If so, is the coverage area much larger than Hefei itself? What happens when you travel to Beijing, Shanghai, etc.? Did anyone bring an unlocked GSM phone to Hefei and buy a local service SIM card? Any recommendations welcome.

[majiren]

Yes i would use a local company, either China Telecom or China Unicom - I believe "tri-band" phones are the way to go tough if you are buying a new one China Unicom uses its own cdma network (don't think the phones will work abroad). I'm no expert so don't take this as 100% acurate. Though I do know phone calls that you make in other cities here in china are at least double if not triple what you would be paying for a local.

Also when you are traveling try not to get stuck with absolute 0 credit on it, you will have a nightmare in some cities trying to recharge it with credit.

[Aussie Mike]

I have an account with China Mobile.  You can set it up at the WuHu VIP office near JinZhai Lu, on the 2nd floor.
You need your passport and I even have message bank.

This seems to be the cheapest option and most reliable.
I can use my phone anywhere in China but it does cost i little extra when calling from other provences.