There are only two providers: China Mobile and China Unicom, each offering pay-as-you-go and subscription services. Don’t be fooled by names like GoTone or M-Zone, as they are simply different plans offered by these carriers. China Mobile offers slightly better coverage, while China Unicom is a bit cheaper. The plans change regularly, but some charge a monthly fee on top of usage (in return for lower costs per call), charge for incoming calls, and whether you have a monthly package of text messages or minutes. Rates per minute are in the ¥0.30 to ¥0.60 range, but lower if you sign up for a package. Note that with either provider, you can use an IP phone number which can be dialled before making a call, which cuts costs dramatically. These numbers are usually 12593, 17591, or 17911.