The much-heralded hearing on domestic roaming charges came and went without conclusion on Tuesday afternoon.
Eighteen people - from carriers, government agencies, consumer bodies and research bodies - took part in the hearing. Organized by the MII and the NDRC, its main purpose of which was to hear two price reform plans.
The meeting did not agree on either of the plans. Both the China Mobile and Unicom representatives argued that the roaming fee was an essential "cost" element in a mobile service.
Officials said they would strive to bring out a final proposal as soon as possible, chinanews.com reported.
The staging of a "public hearing" - which was in fact closed to the public - on a populist issue won high-profile national media coverage and commentary over the week. However, an online poll by website sina.com.cn a day later found that 84% did not think the hearing would have any impact at all on mobile charges.