It's a scene that has failed to materialize in the past, but companies in China are trying again: sitting in front of the television, the viewer surfs the Internet, buys things from online shops, plays online games and makes video phone calls. The TV will transform into a catch-all information appliance, to be used as computer and telephone.

While the technology is already available in most places, the multitasking TV set hasn't caught on with consumers. But some Chinese companies think it's worth another try.

On November 28, 2005, Sichuan-based Changhong, one of China's largest TV makers, and China Telecom, the country's largest telecom provider, held a media event in Beijing, Shanghai and Xi'an, simultaneously pushing the button on a joint promotion of TVs that can access the Internet in 17 cities.

The promotion takes advantage of both resources and platforms, with Changhong opening 1,000 shops to sell this kind of TV and China Telecom providing network operation support. Domestic telecom and TV giants joined hands for the first time to promote the information appliance, a groundbreaking action in China's so-called "3C" industry.

3C stands for computer, communication and consumer electronics. It uses digital information technology to activate any link of the 3C, so that information between computers, communication devices and electronics can be interconnected and exchanged. For the consumer electronics market, this could mean big opportunities.

China Telecom, which has the world's largest fixed-line telephone network, is now in a strategic transition from basic telecom operator to comprehensive information services provider, and offering value-added telecom services to households and TV users is its major task. China Telecom will join hands with content providers and equipment makers to promote using TVs to access the Internet.

Meanwhile, for Changhong, the world's second largest TV seller, 3C offers the prospect of expanding into multimedia, value-added areas.