The phrase refers to a telephone number in China that can be obtained and used without immediate direct monetary cost to the user. These numbers often come with conditions, such as limited usage periods, required initial purchases of related services, or reliance on advertising revenue for operational support. One example involves services offering a temporary number for receiving SMS verification codes.
Access to a Chinese telephone number can be advantageous for individuals and businesses seeking to engage with the Chinese market. It facilitates account registration on Chinese online platforms, provides a local presence for customer support, and bypasses certain geographical restrictions. Historically, obtaining such a number required physical presence in China or complex international roaming agreements. The emergence of internet-based services has presented alternative acquisition methods.
