CHINA Mobile's Shanghai branch yesterday launched free SIM card adaptation services in all local outlets to woo non-contract iPhone 4 users and put pressure on arch rival China Unicom, Apple's sole domestic partner for its handsets.

Apple's iPhone 4 use smaller SIM cards than other handsets. Thus users need to cut their regular SIM cards with a special device if they want to get an iPhone 4, which debuted on the Chinese mainland in September.

Shanghai Mobile now provides cutting devices and related services for iPhone 4 users in all local outlets. It also provides free new SIM cards for iPhone 4 at several outlets in the city, according to Shanghai Mobile's hotline 10086.

It was the latest example of a carrier trying to grab a bigger share of the domestic mobile communications market, which has more than 800 million users.

China Mobile has about a 70 percent share of the domestic market, followed by China Unicom and China Telecom.

Apple and China Unicom sold 100,000 iPhone 4 models within a week after its launch on September 25.