iPhones (finally) On the Way

Dan Edwards | Aug 31, 2009 2:00 pm | 9 comments | 2189 reads



After years of wrangling and false alarms, Apple has finally signed a three-year deal with China Unicom to start selling iPhones in China in the last quarter of this year.

Apple chose to go with the nation’s number two carrier for its efforts to build a 3G network, which is set for completion by the end of this year. According to some reports, however, iphones in China will be stripped of their Wi-Fi capabilities in order to "comply with government rules."

Analysts are already churning out projections of huge returns: Apple is projected to sell 37 million iPhones worldwide next year, and China is expected to account for 15 to 20 percent of those sales.

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Jerry's picture Jerry Submitted by Guest on Mon, 09/28/2009 - 17:49

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125412684524545851.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_sections_tech

China Unicom iPhone Sales to Start in October

BEIJING -- China Unicom (Hong Kong) Ltd. said Monday it will begin offering Apple Inc.'s iPhone in China in October at a retail price of around 5,000 yuan ($732).

China Unicom in August signed a three-year deal with Apple to sell iPhones in China.

Unicom, China's second-largest wireless operator by users after China Mobile Ltd., will offer a choice of eight different service packages with the phone, ranging from 126 yuan to 886 yuan per month.

The rollout of the iPhone coincides with the official launch of China Unicom's third-generation wireless network on Oct. 1. The iPhone will be sold in Apple retail outlets, through China Unicom's own network of stores, and through major independent retailers, Unicom's statement said. Unicom is also developing an online application store based on Apple's model.

Jerry Chan, Digital Marketing & Content Strategy Director

stavrogin's picture stavrogin Submitted by Guest on Fri, 09/04/2009 - 16:18

No wifi
no itunes,
no point.

Why get this thing if the Chinese govt is going to strip it of the technology it is made to use.

One word, Stupid.

Shame on you Apple. It goes to show not only Microsoft will prostitute itself for money.

admin's picture admin Submitted by Guest on Tue, 09/01/2009 - 11:39

i can use itunes on my ipod, no problem

(though i can't download This American Life X( )

Books by current and former Beijinger staffers

http://astore.amazon.com/truerunmedia-20

Jerry's picture Jerry Submitted by Guest on Tue, 09/01/2009 - 10:38

Quote:
no itunes?

wht not?

Perhaps for the same reason itunes has been intermittently unavailable in China - 'sensitive' album releases, politically-themed podcasts and the like ...

Jerry Chan, Digital Marketing & Content Strategy Director

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