Expensive iPhone Debuts in China Without WiFi

**Paul Daniel Ash** · 10-30-2009, 10:32 AM

The Wall Street Journal reports today on China Unicom (Hong Kong) Ltd.'s launch of the iPhone by noting the price of a 32-GB iPhone 3GS without a service contract: ¥6,999 or the equivalent of $1,024. The phones also lack WiFi, due to government restrictions in place at the time the phones were manufactured.

With pay-as-you-go service - which is the popular method of staying connected in China - the WSJ notes that over two years, the cost of ownership of a legitimate iPhone will be over $3,000, which is about what the average person makes in a year. The cheapest phone offered by China Unicom costs ¥4,999 or about $730. In comparison, unlocked 3GS phones are commonly available at electronics stores for around ¥4,000, and have full WiFi capability.

The official phones had slow sales on the first day, likely due to both the high cost and the lack of WiFi. The Chinese government had imposed a mandate requiring that any wireless device manufactured in or imported into China must use the WAPI encryption scheme, which is incompatible with IEEE 802.11. The restriction was lifted in May, but not before devices without the WiFi chip had already gone into production.

The Associated Press reports that the carrier intends to launch WiFi with the next batch of phones they sell. "We are talking with Apple and expect the problem to be solved by the end of this year," a China Unicom spokesman said.

image via TheAppleBlog

**wingedfoot26** · 10-30-2009, 11:00 AM

In China...iphone owns you!

First

**Home Skillet** · 10-30-2009, 11:04 AM

This is the best picture ever in the history of China.

**realjaja** · 10-30-2009, 11:13 AM

i thought WAPI died like years ago... like HD-DVD

**Fallguy** · 10-30-2009, 11:17 AM

I guess its not that bad here in the states after all .

**cssoz** · 10-30-2009, 11:29 AM

Originally Posted by Home Skillet

This is the best picture ever in the history of China.

they look white...

**nighthawk283** · 10-30-2009, 11:45 AM

HAHAHAH this is funny news

**JAG2621** · 10-30-2009, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by Fallguy

I guess its not that bad here in the states after all .

makes you think twice. I would not have one if it cost a years wage.Who would want one without WIFI anyway.

**RaginAsian55** · 10-30-2009, 04:50 PM

Originally Posted by Home Skillet

This is the best picture ever in the history of China.

I was gonna say the same... those Chinese people look awfully Caucasian to me......

**tudtran** · 10-30-2009, 08:59 PM

That's mess up. They payed rip off price for the iPhone. They can't even use WiFi. I hope that called doesn't made by Apple.

**Spooky** · 10-30-2009, 11:16 PM

Really..? ¥4,000..? Google says that equals $44...Meaning some fake ****** copy or an actual iPhone? When I was there last winter I didn't spot any real iPhones. And trust me - I was looking.

**warisjain** · 10-31-2009, 12:57 AM

Originally Posted by RaginAsian55

I was gonna say the same... those Chinese people look awfully Caucasian to me......

wow u kids racist?

**confucious** · 10-31-2009, 05:28 AM

Originally Posted by Spooky

Really..? ¥4,000..? Google says that equals $44...Meaning some fake ****** copy or an actual iPhone?

Not sure where you're looking but at today's rates ¥4,000 is $585.875....

**mobikob** · 10-31-2009, 06:35 AM

Its Yuan, not Yen. punch that in the converter.

Mobi

**feng303** · 10-31-2009, 11:28 PM

Lol

**n00neimp0rtant** · 11-01-2009, 06:02 PM

Originally Posted by warisjain

wow u kids racist?

I find it comical when people don't know what racism is. He wasn't saying anything degrading or prejudiced against Chinese people. At all.

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