China Unicom Reports Only 5,000 New iPhone Users Since Launch

[The Samurai]

My father is based out in China. I was speaking to him just now and by chance this topic of the iPhone came up. He was saying that those people who wanted the iPhone got it a long time ago, either from the States or Hong Kong (he got his from Hong Kong last month from a reputable dealer). Furthermore, as many have stated - its not hard to get one from the black market and thats what my dad told me an all.

China Unicom were simply too late in the game.

EDIT: also, finding knock off iPhones isn't hard in China. When I went last year, a few locals had them and they looked pretty good fakes i.e. design wise.

 

[jsdc2005]

Plus, probably anyone who wants one already picked one up off the black market.

+1. That's 5,000 legal users, which in China would be just the tip of the iceberg.

 

[macshill]

Yeah. That's right. It was Unicom's (and the Chinese Government's, if I'm not mistaken) insistence that the iPhone be crippled at launch. You think Apple wanted this?

Yeah, but it's like a year ago when Google wanted to enter the Chinese market. They either sell out their intergity and allowed a crippled search engine to be launched or they stay true to their intergrity and say 'no'. IIRC, they sold out... and now so did Apple. *sigh* I guess anything for the all mighty dollar, eh?

 

[macchiato2009]

who cares about chinese people ?? seriously...

after all, they are the world champions of fakes and counterfeits

 

[mytdave]

Duh!

Well, let's see... I could buy a hobbled expensive "official" version, or I could buy an unlocked, restriction free, WiFi enabled version for less money elsewhere... hmmm.... decisions, decsions...

 

[jayducharme]

Apple didn't want to remove wifi. This is Unicom's doing. Negotiations took forever, and Unicom managed to almost completely pull the rug out from under the iPhone.

Perhaps this is Apple's way of proving a point. I can't imagine anyone at Apple thought Unicom's version of the iPhone was going to be a success. Maybe Apple figured that Unicom would realize that as well and help put pressure on the Chinese government to allow WiFi.

It's as if China is gradually being pried open like a stuck paint can. It's a long, patient process.

 

[BongoBanger]

Apple wont care that much - their figures are based on shipments, not consumer sales so if they've shipped a million or so that's what'll reflect in their revenue.

This is Unicom's problem.

 

[baryon]

who cares about chinese people ?? seriously...

after all, they are the world champions of fakes and counterfeits

They do make up one sixth of the world population... And they do produce everything for everyone in the rest of the world... They are the world's fastest growing powers so anything that happens there affects us in some way...

 

[OllyW]

who cares about chinese people ?? seriously...

after all, they are the world champions of fakes and counterfeits

And they also make near enough every product that is sold by Apple today.

 

[DipDog3]

Those that wanted one have one and those that want one are waiting till they put wifi back into it.

 

[Rocketman]

IIRC Apple insisted Unicom commit to a minimum number of units under the current deal so when Apple says, "I told you so", they do it AFTER cashing the check.

If Unicom/China change tactics mid-stream which has been reported, Apple gets the $ from the first X units committed and unsold, AND the $ from the second X units that people will really buy.

Remember the reason the black market iPhones and iPod Touches sell so well IS wifi not 3G.

Rocketman

 

[macshill]

who cares about chinese people ?? seriously...

after all, they are the world champions of fakes and counterfeits

HA! You're singing a pretty ungrateful tune, considering the bulk of the items in your home are made there. You'd see all those items bumped up in price if they were made in Europe, America, Canada. lol

 

[joeonmac]

不买没有wifi的

no wifi no buying

 

[guzhogi]

It's like trying to sell a car that only runs on bicycle pedals.

I personally prefer Flinstones style cars.

I agree, 5000 does sound low, especially considering the population of China. I'll admit, I'm no expert on China, but I've heard that an iPhone would cost more than 3 months' pay for a good sized portion of the population. Forgot where I heard it & don't even know how accurate it is. Plus, when you add in the lack of Wi-Fi, when China (or whomever there) loosened the ban.

 

[macshill]

And they also make near enough every product that is sold by Apple today.

Exactly. Thank you. You think Apple prices are high enough as it is...

 

[linuxophile]

Blame Apple.

 

[iZac]

"...in other news, Hong Kongs iPhone sales spiked 3000% in the last week"

 

[zacman]

It's just the same in China like in most other countries. The iPhone isn't really selling that well outside of the US.

For example in Germany (population of 82 million) T-Mobile (biggest provider there with around 40 million sim cards) sold also around 5000 iPhones 2G in the same period of time, the 3GS sold around 17000 in its first week according to them.

 

[brasscat]

Two things are going on here... China Mobile is selling legitimate iPhones at around $1,000 a pop -- if memory recalls correctly -- gouging their wealthier customers that adopt early. But the real story is the conversion of customers to their 3G network from the existing black market iPhones; That's why they mention new 3G customer sign ups; read between the lines, these are black market iPhone customers.

Once new iPhone purchases drop ,they will likely drop the price of the phone and let the "next level" of customer in. Follow that pattern until we're where we are today in the US with a $99 model.

 

[*LTD*]

Blame Apple.

For what? Making a great product?

 

[Small White Car]

Those that wanted one have one and those that want one are waiting till they put wifi back into it.

Can we just erase everyone's comments except this one?

In 20 words this says it better than everything else written here.

 

[OllyW]

Once new iPhone purchases drop ,they will likely drop the price of the phone and let the "next level" of customer in.

Didn't Apple do that in the USA and have to give refunds to the disgruntled early adopters?

 

[brasscat]

Didn't Apple do that in the USA?

Yes! It's a way of maximizing profits while simultaneously ramping up inventory levels to support sales at a future lower price.

 

[Rocketman]

HA! You're singing a pretty ungrateful tune, considering the bulk of the items in your home are made there. You'd see all those items bumped up in price if they were made in Europe, America, Canada. lol

I want to pay 20% more, employ our own citizens, and restore our factories, so when oil goes to $200 a barrel we have our needed stuff within 1/4 gallon per unit from us rather than 4 gallons per unit from us.

Rocketman

 

[iSamurai]

The guys who want iPhones in China would already have them long ago... They should just sell the 1st batch at a really subsidised price and ramp up the new iPhone models, and consider charging less (but who in the corporate world would actually do that?)