Eightrent Shanghai, a Corporate Rental Business in China, and Joytel, a Chinese IT and Communications Company, Begin Offering "Company Smartphones with Chinese Mobile Numbers" | Enjoy the Latest Smartphones like iPhone 17 at Great Monthly Rates

Joytel Co., Ltd. (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Atsushi Shibata; hereinafter "Joytel") provides services such as "China Doko Demo WiFi," a WiFi service that makes China's internet environment as comfortable as Japan's, and "China Mobile Number SIM," which allows users to receive official Chinese mobile numbers in Japan, to support Japanese people traveling to China.

In April 2026, Eightrent Shanghai (Shanghai City; General Manager: Tatsuya Ishigaki; hereinafter "Eightrent Shanghai"), the Chinese local subsidiary of Eightrent Co., Ltd., which provides rental services for general goods, announced its collaboration with Joytel to begin offering "Company Smartphone Rental with Chinese Mobile Numbers."

(* This smartphone rental service is only available for corporations. Individual applications are not accepted (China Mobile Number SIM is also available for individuals).)

Please contact either Eightrent Shanghai or Joytel for inquiries.

Eightrent Shanghai (Shanghai Balian Integrated Goods Leasing Co., Ltd.) Website https://www.eightrent.cn/ ■ Eightrent Shanghai "Contact Us" info@eightrent.cn (Japanese available)

Joytel Service Introduction Page https://www.joytel.jp/topics/joytel-service/eightrent-partnership-china-smartphone/ ■ Joytel "Contact Us" support@joytel.jp (Japanese available)

Joytel provides official Chinese mobile number SIMs to all Japanese people traveling to China.

As the new fiscal year 2026 approaches, the number of Japanese people newly assigned to China from Japan is steadily increasing.

One of the concerns for these Japanese people traveling to China is their mobile phone number and smartphone.

What should be done with their Japanese mobile phone number during their assignment in China? Should it be temporarily suspended? Or should it be maintained for continued use? If maintained, what is the cheapest plan?

And after arriving in China, various procedures are immediately required. How should one apply for a Chinese mobile phone number? Is it not possible to apply online as in Japan?

Furthermore, can the smartphone they are currently using be used in China? Are there any problems when using it in China? Even with just mobile phone numbers and smartphones, the concerns are endless.

In this situation, Eightrent Shanghai, the Chinese local subsidiary of major rental industry player Eightrent, and Joytel, which provides specialized IT and communication solutions for China, have partnered to offer "Company Smartphone Rental with Chinese Mobile Numbers." This service provides the latest iPhone and Android smartphones along with official mobile numbers issued by China Telecom, a major Chinese telecommunications company, to Japanese expatriates in China, with easy and convenient procedures and affordable rates.

◇ Why are Chinese smartphones recommended for Japanese people on long-term stays or assignments in China?

For anyone on a long-term stay overseas, not just in China, it is necessary to maintain and use both the mobile phone number of the destination country and their Japanese mobile phone number.

Recently, the necessity of maintaining a Japanese mobile phone number even during long-term stays abroad has increased. For example, two-factor authentication using mobile phone numbers has become common in Japan, so it is important to be able to receive short messages at all times. In addition, since mobile phone numbers are registered for various procedures in Japan, temporarily suspending that number carries the risk of being unable to complete urgent procedures.

And of course, in China, a Chinese mobile phone number is important personal information frequently used for identity verification. Most apps used in China almost always require authentication with a Chinese mobile phone number, and it is also crucial information for identity verification in official procedures such as opening a bank account and applying for a visa.

Japanese people assigned to China need to use both Japanese and Chinese mobile phone numbers simultaneously. The question here is how to insert and use the SIM cards for each mobile phone number in a smartphone.

Most Japanese smartphones require one physical SIM and one eSIM. Furthermore, Japanese iPhones released in 2025 and later are designed so that physical SIMs cannot be inserted.

In contrast, in China, due to regulations regarding identity verification procedures at the start of use, eSIMs are not provided for SIMs with phone numbers. Only physical SIMs are provided.

Due to these SIM specifications, smartphones sold in China, both iPhones and Androids, including the latest iPhone 17, are characterized by supporting only physical SIMs.

(Although eSIMs are partially provided for iPhone Air, it seems that widespread adoption is still some way off.)

Conversely, by purchasing a Chinese smartphone sold in China, you can insert and use two mobile phone SIMs, one Japanese and one Chinese, simultaneously.

This specification of Chinese smartphones, which allows for the insertion of two physical SIMs, is a major reason why they are recommended for Japanese people on long-term stays in China.

◇ Is it difficult to apply for a Chinese mobile phone number locally in China? Joytel solves it!

Joytel, in partnership with China Telecom, a major Chinese telecommunications company, provides official Chinese mobile number SIMs to Japanese people.

This product was initially offered during the COVID-19 pandemic to prepare for China's local health code (equivalent to Japan's close contact tracing app) in Japan before traveling to China.

Currently, to enable Japanese people traveling to China to prepare Chinese apps and other necessities in advance, Joytel offers a system where Chinese mobile number SIMs are delivered to a designated address in Japan simply by applying online.

Applying for a new Chinese mobile phone number at a local carrier shop in China is a time-consuming process and is said to be one of the tasks disliked by general affairs personnel of local Chinese subsidiaries. However, with Joytel's service, everything can be completed online and via email, contributing to work efficiency.

◇ Long-term rental of company smartphones with monthly payments is also recommended in China.

Recently, the prices of iPhone and Android smartphones have significantly increased due to global inflation.

For Japanese companies expanding into China, company smartphones for employees are necessary alongside computers, but they have been a heavy capital investment.

By paying for this as a monthly fee through a 2-year or 3-year long-term rental, there are significant benefits from both a tax perspective and a financial burden perspective.

Even with a simple calculation, if the cost of a smartphone exceeding 100,000 yen can be paid in installments over 3 years (36 months), it can be said to have a significant psychological relief effect.

◇ 5 Features of "Company Smartphone Rental with Chinese Mobile Numbers"

① You can use the latest iPhone 17 and Android smartphones.

Eightrent, which widely handles rental services for computers and other equipment in China, provides the latest iPhone 17 and Android smartphones.

Although it is a rental service, we deliver brand new, unopened devices. You can choose the color and data capacity for each smartphone.

② Adopts official lines from China Telecom, a major Chinese telecommunications company, and complies with Chinese regulations.

The Chinese mobile phone numbers used in these smartphones are officially issued by China Telecom, a major Chinese telecommunications company.

This allows for the use of Chinese mobile phone numbers, smartphones, and apps that comply with strict Chinese regulations.

The mobile phone number can, of course, be used with peace of mind for official procedures such as opening a local bank account in China and applying for a visa.

③ All procedures and support for Chinese mobile phone numbers and smartphones are available in Japanese.

Eightrent Shanghai and Joytel have sales and support bases in Shanghai, China, with Japanese-speaking staff.

These staff members handle all procedures during application and support after use in Japanese, providing peace of mind for Japanese people who are not yet accustomed to life in China.

④ Procedures can be completed online and via email without visiting a local Chinese carrier shop.

In addition to Japanese application and support, a major feature is that these procedures can be completed entirely online and via email.

Normally, obtaining a Chinese mobile phone number requires the individual to visit a local Chinese carrier shop, which is a burden not only for the Japanese applicant but also for the general affairs personnel of the local subsidiary.

Joytel, in partnership with China Telecom, provides a system that allows foreigners, including Japanese, to complete the phone number issuance procedure entirely online.

This allows customers to receive a set of a smartphone and a Chinese mobile phone number that can be used immediately within one or two days after application.

⑤ Of course, it can be used at an affordable monthly rate.

The latest iPhone and Android smartphones can be used with a 2-year contract (24 installments) or a 3-year contract (36 installments). Eightrent's purchasing power is utilized to offer affordable rental rates.

Of course, Chinese mobile phone numbers are also offered at affordable rates based on official low-cost plans from China Telecom, a major Chinese telecommunications company.

The smartphone fee and Chinese mobile phone number fee are combined and offered at an affordable monthly rate.

◇ For details on Chinese smartphone services, rates, and applications

For details on this service, confirmation of rates, and applications, please refer to the introduction pages of Eightrent or Joytel, or contact the inquiry desk.

Eightrent Shanghai (Shanghai Balian Integrated Goods Leasing Co., Ltd.) Website https://www.eightrent.cn/ ■ Eightrent Shanghai "Contact Us" info@eightrent.cn (Japanese available)

Joytel Service Introduction Page https://www.joytel.jp/topics/joytel-service/eightrent-partnership-china-smartphone/ ■ Joytel "Contact Us" support@joytel.jp (Japanese available)

With a "Company Smartphone with Chinese Mobile Number," you don't have to worry about an uncertain assignment to China.

Please visit the websites of Eightrent or Joytel and make an inquiry.

Joytel Co., Ltd. plans to continue developing various solutions to enable Japanese people to use Chinese mobile phones and the internet more safely, conveniently, and easily in the future.

Eightrent Shanghai, a Corporate Rental Business in China, and Joytel, a Chinese IT and Communications Company, Begin Offering "Company Smartphones with Chinese Mobile Numbers" | Enjoy the Latest Smartphones like iPhone 17 at Great Monthly Rates https://www.joytel.jp/topics/joytel-service/eightrent-partnership-china-smartphone/

Company Profile Company Name: Joytel Co., Ltd. Location: Connect-Lounge Kanda, 7F Kanda Higashiyama Bldg., 2-1 Kanda Tamachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Representative: Atsushi Shibata Business Activities: IT and communication solutions for Japanese companies in China, inbound marketing solutions URL: https://www.joytel.jp/

Contact for this matter Joytel Co., Ltd. Network Solution Business Division TEL: 0120-69-5677 (If connection is not possible, please call 050-5526-2143) MAIL: support@joytel.jp