Joyce Cai wanted a “cool” new handset after her iPhone was stolen near People’s Square last month. One week later, the 27-year-old woman chose a 2G Dopod model, which also has a touch screen.
       “I would have chosen a 3G phone if they were nice and smart,” she said. “In the end, I couldn’t find one attractive enough.”
       The lack of variety in 3G models in China has been a sticking point in the domestic market since the government issued third-generation mobile communications, or 3G, licenses in January.
       But the problems don’t end there. The 3G industry is also hamstrung by a costly and complicated price structure, inability to transfer mobile numbers when switching carriers, lack of content and limited network capacity.
New handset models smuggled into China or bought by Chinese when traveling overseas have also undercut domestic sales as well as 3G mobile phone sales.
        The Chinese government and telecommunications carriers are promoting the new 3G technology everywhere, from prime-time TV commercials and front page newspaper ads to large advertising posters in Metro stations.