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A phone number ending in seven consecutive zeros was sold for an astonishing 700,000 yuan (about $96,000) at a recent online auction held by the People’s Court of Binhai New Area in Tianjin. The bidding process lasted 24 hours, during which 24 participants placed 36 bids, pushing the price far beyond the starting bid of 250,000 yuan.
This high-profile auction follows a similar incident last year in Yancheng, Jiangsu Province, where a phone number featuring six consecutive eights was sold for 420,000 yuan. These auctions have sparked heated discussions online, with many netizens marveling at the high prices people are willing to pay for "lucky" or rare phone numbers.
However, this latest auctioned number comes with a few notable caveats. According to the court’s description, the purchaser gains only the right to use the number, not full ownership. Additionally, if there are any outstanding dues on the number, the buyer is required to settle them before completing the transfer process.
As of August 2024, the phone number carried a historical unpaid balance of 305.3 yuan. There is no minimum monthly service fee requirement, and buyers are not required to deposit funds to complete the transfer. Furthermore, the number can be ported to a different carrier without any restrictions on its current network tenure. However, the costs associated with the transfer process are the sole responsibility of the buyer.
The auction details also advised bidders to confirm several factors before participating, including the feasibility of transferring the usage rights, the time required for processing the transfer, and the terms and conditions that would apply post-transfer.
Netizens have shared mixed reactions to the sale. While some expressed amazement at the price paid for a phone number, others raised concerns about the practicalities of purchasing a number that comes with no guarantee of ownership.
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