Beijing Netcom is reportedly conducting internal experiments on a new type of phone called a QBOX.

The news comes via Sina, which says the QBOX looks similar to an ordinary wireless phone, but it has all the functions of a fixed phone. When it is installed at home and coupled with a Little Smart (PHS) phone, the latter will serve as an extension line of the fixed phone. In this way, lack of signal at home will no longer be a barrier for Little Smart subscribers to communicate with the outside. Each QBOX can supposedly support as many as 10 Little Smart phones.

Beijing Netcom has not disclosed when the service will be formally launched, but it does say it will arrange the relevant standards before promoting the service in large scale among manufacturers. Currently, only UT Starcom (UTSI) is capable of producing the QBOX and Little Smart terminal combo device.