iPhone Coming Soon to China?

[sayam]

It seems that a regional branch of China Unicom has posted some iPhone related information on their site.

Though Apple had been trying hard to collaborate with China Mobile to release the iPhone in China, the biggest telecom market, all the rounds of negotiations were in vain. The carrier company wanted much more control over the phone but as we know, Apple could have never been ready for that.

Finally, Apple reached out the second largest Chinese carrier- China Unicom- and it finally seems that the phone will soon be available soon via China Unicom. The company has one of the largest base of subscribers worldwide as well, which could help Apple establish an even larger world-wide presence.

There's no confirmation that China Unicom is in fact launching the iPhone but signs are pointing to yes. Not only does their website have iPhone information but a press release, posted just a week before the site update says:

The information, which listed smartphones supported by the 3G network China Unicom is building, appeared only on the Web site of the company's Shanghai branch and did not say whether the products would be offered in China.

The site's changes follow media reports that a China Unicom delegation visiting Apple last week made a breakthrough in talks over offering the iPhone 3G on its network.

[MacNN]

[ommak]

first

and that's a better screenie in English

[plcrules]

lol they get it now win we get a new 1 in a few months

[xwinger]

they dont have iphones yet??

[r1994augusto]

they dont have iphones yet??

maybe yes because I read something saying that they had a free iphones campaing if u buy a data plan!

[rburg]

maybe yes because I read something saying that they had a free iphones campaing if u buy a data plan!

Your a bit confused, that was Japan offering the free iPhone with a data plan since sales were so poor. They have way more advanced phones there than our iPhones plus the Japanese love their MMS apparently which is another reason sales were so poor. And as to China, they did not have the iPhone officially released yet mainly due to the fact that Apple final met its match in control mongering. LOL.

[Dryice]

anyone notice on that screenshot it has pics of a "EDGE" iPhone, not a 3G
Also has MMS, and "Handwriting Input"

[daching]

Finally, my cousin can now get an iPhone.

[Bob_Doublelina]

We do have iPhones in China, lots of them and non of them fro the Apple store, which is one of the problems for the carriers here. The second one, to put things into context, you always buy your own phone full price, no subsidies, no such thing as getting a new phone for 10 bucks if you sign a two year contract.

As an example I got off an internal flight in Shanghai the other day and waiting for our luggage no less than half a dozen people were checking their e-mail on their iPhones, including one stewardess. How are the carriers give money to Apple for those phones that they did not sell? How are they going to make those people, well I should say "us" sign up for special "iPhone data plan" when their 3G is not compatible with the iPhone (yes still on Edge)? As to the app store, there is no way that it's current western centric version would fly here, there is comparatively very low credit card ownership here, hence China Mobile reportedly asking to do their own app store, which Apple allegedly refused.

A word of caution to Apple, China is not America, adapt or forget it.

[StealthBravo]

forget it

[sziklassy]

A word of caution to Apple, China is not America, adapt or forget it.

From Apple's track record, China will either adapt to them, or China can forget it. The only thing Apple wants more than money is to be the one in charge. You can bet on that. Obviously the companies WANT Apple's presence in their cellphone market or else there wouldn't be discussion in the first place.

[discostar]

I don't know about the Chinese mobile scene, but the Japanese couldn't care less about the iPhone (which sucks for the iPhone gaming scene for otaku like me).

So the iPhone comes to China. But will the Chinese care?

Apple wasn't considering the Eastern market, who had mobile tech that was already 5 years beyond the iPhone.

I hope the Chinese will embrace the iPhone, though. I think they could bring some really cool stuff to the scene.

lol they get it now win we get a new 1 in a few months

Well, yeah. That's what happened with Europe and the 3G. They never got the edge phones. They went straight to 3G. I'd imagine the same would happen in China. They go straight to, whatever the next iPhone is. I hope. Otherwise, I'd feel a bit cheated.

[BenzoHartt]

Hooray for China! Hooray for Apple! Hooray for iPhones! Hooray for Chinese Apples! Hooray for Apple iPhones! Hooray for Chinese Apple iPhones! :-)

iPhone... the most popular phones in the world! I like the sound of that.

[meaintsmart]

My friend, who works as an accountant at Apple of Elk Grove, CA just went to China this past Sunday to try to make a deal with China about the iPhone. =D
If I find out more details, I'll tell you guys in this thread.

[ethereal]

I dont think Apple will dominate the Chinese market, not yet at least. There are things they people look for in a phone that are different from America. But glad my cousins can now get their iPhones legibility.

[confucious]

Cody first posted the possibility 3 weeks ago http://www.modmyi.com/forums/iphone-...ng-iphone.html

Apples techniques might be OK in western markets but I think they are going to have to adapt to China - they could 'forget it' but the sheer size of the potential Chinese market means they are unlikely too.

China Unicom's 3G network will be compatible with the iPhone and it is in both parties interest to come to a compromise.