The new SMS Inter-link Settlement Agreement has finally been signed by China Netcom, China Unicom, China Telecom and China Mobile. This new agreement will soon enable normal GSM phone users to send short messages (SMS) to Little Smart phone users.

The interoperability agreement was expected to take effect earlier this year, after a joint testing memorandum was signed in 2003, but the four parties delayed roll-out because of technical differences and internal disagreements.

Northern provinces that belong to China Netcom's precinct have already started testing, and service is expected in China's other provinces by the end of 2004.