China Mobile Communications Corp, the world's biggest mobile operator in terms of number of subscribers, said it would release new cell phone numbers to allow for up to 100 million more users.

　　It will release numbers led by 1340 to 1348 in a bid to alleviate a future number shortage.

　　China Mobile believes the release of the new numbers could theoretically allow for 90 million new subscribers immediately.

　　"We have got the approval to commence the new numbers but we have not decided on a detailed timetable for the release of numbers nationwide," Gao Songge, a senior official with China Mobile, said yesterday in Shanghai.

　　Meanwhile, Shanghai Mobile, the local branch of the operator, will launch the new numbers in the city next month after the national holiday dated on October 1, according to Zhang Chunmin, its public relations official.

　　China Mobile operates 11-digit mobile phone numbers led by 135 to 139.

　　China United Telecommunications Corp, China Mobile's arch rival, controls the numbers 130 and 131 for its GSM or global system for mobile communications users and 133 for CDMA users, which stands for code division multiple access.

　　"With the population's appetite for mobile phones growing, the numbers have become a precious resource for carriers in China, especially with the upcoming 3G era," said Zhang Yin, a senior analyst at Analysys International.

　　The number of mobile users in China reached 310.21 million at the end of July, a 29 percent rise from last year, according to the Ministry of Information Industry.

　　China Mobile's subscribers have surpassed 200 million, according to Zhang.

　　"China Mobile has activated only half of its current numbers due to poor management, which has led to many inactive or so-called 'dead numbers,"' Zhang said.

　　Deng Yunlan, Shanghai Unicom's public relations official, said the company will consider applying for the new number source if its CDMA business continues growing rapidly.

　　编辑：趴趴