China Unicom Shanghai elevates smart …

PARTNER CONTENT: China Unicom officially launched its versatile home robot Tone in mid-May, attracting widespread attention for its work to converge computing networks, AI and real-world innovation.

Unveiling the world’s first operator-developed commercial smart home product, China Unicom Shanghai’s Tone Experience event in June served as a warm-up for MWC Shanghai 2025 days later.

The launch also raised a critical question: At this pivotal moment of deepening network development and widespread AI adoption in the world’s largest communications market, how can Chinese operators transcend their role as “pipe service providers” through scenario-based innovation?

The event on 16 June, held at China Unicom’s Digital Flagship Hall in Shanghai, highlighted innovation across a number of areas.

In terms of computing-network convergence, Tone makes use of both computing power and networks, and leverages more than 300 integrated communication-AI cloud pools and high-speed full-home optical broadband networks.

The robot also delivers device-cloud computing power collaboration services and uses a carrier-class security system to protect user information.

Interactive AI agent
In terms of integrated digital and intelligent innovation, the Tone AI agent, powered by the Yuanjing model and mainstream AI technologies in the industry, provides users with intelligent interactive experiences. Innovation in integrating the digital and real worlds focuses on home and personal lifestyle needs, enabling more convenient, seamless and enriched smart living.

When it comes to functional experience, Tone comes with an all-scenario intelligent voice interaction system, allowing users to quickly wake up the AI assistant through voice commands and request different tasks to be completed.

To address the issues of complex operations and troublesome account login and switchover due to features like cloud disk storage, smart home security and video entertainment delivered by different apps, Tone comes with a “super-aggregated” ecosystem platform, which seamlessly accesses top video service platforms, audio book resources and China Unicom’s own quality apps.

It also supports unified account management, which enables customers to access all applications through a single phone number. The cloud-based AI PC supports multi-device account data synchronisation, delivering efficient cross-device coordination through voice.

China Unicom’s cloud-based AI phone not only expands traditional hardware, it also supports the close integration of cloud services and intelligent applications. By putting game rendering in the cloud, with the company’s powerful cloud computing capability, the AI phone can enable a low-end phone owner to enjoy the user experience of a high-end phone.

It also supports lightning-fast downloads with reduced power consumption. This innovative product enhances the user experience, while promoting the deep integration of AI and smart devices.

Dual network support
China Unicom Shanghai’s dual 10-gigabit networks, supported by 5G-Advanced (5G-A) and 10-gigabit broadband, and Tone complement each other, bringing unprecedented network experience to home users.

With dual 10-gigabit networks, an HD movie can be downloaded in the blink of an eye, and large files can be transferred almost instantly. Low-latency 10-gigabit networks can instantly response to online work task instructions, making remote collaboration feel face-to-face. In agent control, command execution achieves near-zero latency, greatly improving smooth smart home operations.

The combination of Tone and dual 10-gigabit networks has spawned a variety of smart home applications. China Unicom combines separate smart devices, network services and home requirements into an integrated solution, promoting a home upgrade from “single-point intelligence” to “all-scenario intelligence” to meet the different needs of every family member.

Reshaping value creation
Under the spotlight at MWC Shanghai 2025, China Unicom Shanghai’s Tone Experience event was not only a showcase of technological innovation, but an example of operator transformation in China.

When users wake up smart devices in the home by saying “Hi Tone”, so-called pipe service providers, which once centered on bandwidth-based charging, are now transforming into definers of intelligent scenarios, builders of digital ecosystems and even key drivers of industry upgrades, by using the close integration of 5G-A, 10-gigabit broadband and AI.

The traditional business model in the communications industry is essentially a “pipe economy” based on network coverage and bandwidth capacity. In the era of 5G-A and 10-gigabit broadband, China Unicom Shanghai’s initiatives show that networks are now more than data transmission channels, but are quantifiable and customisable “capability products”.

As the boundary of operator services expands from connectivity to scenario-based experiences, their business model is also shifting from traffic-based charging to value sharing. The transformation exploration of China Unicom Shanghai also demonstrates that operators are becoming key drivers of industry digital transformation by building new infrastructure that integrates networks, computing and intelligence.