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

[seedster2]

Blame Unicom.

Blame Apple. If they hadn't pushed their unsuccessful profit sharing model, they would have penetrated that marketplace earlier and not have to contend with black market imports from other regions eating away authorized sales.

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.

bingo. It has less to do with wifi and more to do with it's cheaper and already accessible through other avenues.

Also, it is ironic that many are simply attributing poor sales to "crippling of devices" when in fact much of you have previously claimed missing features were of little consequence to the iPhone's success. Why has this position totally evaporated in this discussion?

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.

Also ironic that the same people who contend that missing features have little impact in iPhone adoption are now blaming the carrier for a crippled phone. What happened to all of the ease of use blah blah...

This is Unicom's problem.

Pretty much. This is evidenced before each iPhone update when carriers like o2 and others have a sale on the outgoing models that they're on the hook for.

It will however remove apple's leverage at the negotiation table

 

[NT1440]

Well when you cripple the phone as badly as Unicom made them....

Uh, DUUUUURRRRRRR

 

[reckless2k2]

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

I'm right there with you Rocketman except for the paying 20% more part. I'm 110% for employing our own citizens and restoring manufacturing in the US but the reason that's not happening is because of government taxation and regulation. Hence the 20% more at least. You live in CA so you should understand.

Edit: Why do they charge so much to the Chinese especially considering they make them right there in their factories? Hahaha. Evil Communists. hahaha

 

[Kaibelf]

Correct. It would kill iPhone without wifi even here in US/Europe where 3G is spread widely. Main factors for poor selling performance there are:
1. Lack of wifi
2. High price
3. Lack of 3G
4. Existence of iPhone clones in China

Actually, it's because fully-functional, wi-fi capable jailbroken phones are widespread there and cheaper than the watered-down official version.

 

[brasscat]

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

They gave store credits after angry backlash. Store credits are essentially coupons for additional sales at their stores.

 

[star-fish]

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

You don't have enough space, enough resources, enough people willing to do unskilled manual labour for low wages, enough oil or enough money to fund it from the start (particularly to be within environmental needs). You'll be paying far, far more than 20% more, especially when you take into account potential pollution levels.

It's also a step backwards. What next, give up on manfacturing and insist everyone becomes a farmer?

 

[Mattie Num Nums]

Think about what you just said, where the iPhone is being sold (and in what condition), and what we enjoy on our iPhones in Europe and North America.

Apple only wanted $600 for the unit. They didn't ask for $1000. 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.

Only in China.

So why didn't Apple stick to there guns instead of give into the Chinese. Apple can release a completely paralyzed iPhone yet at the same time they can trash the netbook market.

 

[Goona]

The Apple haters are rejoicing today.

 

[glossywhite]

Hey, if the Chinese iClones are as good as they say they are, why don't they just use those... I mean, they do everything EXACTLY the same, don't they!

Good old China:

1/ Innovation: 0%

2/ Imitation: 1000%

 

[Mattie Num Nums]

Hey, if the Chinese iClones are as good as they say they are, why don't they just use those... I mean, they do everything EXACTLY the same, don't they!

Good old China:

1/ Innovation: 0%

2/ Imitation: 1000%

Good ole China has been producing, making, and engineering Apple technology for years now. Designed in California means just that, and thats about it.

 

[Goona]

Good ole China has been producing, making, and engineering Apple technology for years now. Designed in California means just that, and thats about it.

The Chinese are doing engineering for Apple?

 

[ThunderSkunk]

Good ole China has been producing, making, and engineering Apple technology for years now. Designed in California means just that, and thats about it.

Not an engineer, are ya.

 

[OllyW]

The Chinese are doing engineering for Apple?

Probably on the manufacturing side. China has some of the highest tech manufacturing facilities in the world.

Yes, I know they have also got victorian sweat shops.

 

[neuropsychguy]

The Chinese are doing engineering for Apple?

Well, you know, engineers only put stuff together - they never design anything. Engineer is just a fancy name for an assembly line worker.

 

[Goona]

Probably on the manufacturing side. China has some of the highest tech manufacturing facilities in the world.

But the dude implied that all of Apple's engineering was being done in China and the only thing that Apple actually did was design. I'm sure the products have to actually be engineered in California before Apple's partners in China even get the actual device to manufacture.

 

[Mattie Num Nums]

Not an engineer, are ya.

Ah but thats where you are wrong. I am a Double E. You're not much for the real world are yah. You do realize that Apple uses its outside sources to "engineer" there ideas. If it wasn't for companies like Foxconn, TXC, Delta, Larger Precision, Altus-Tech, and many other Chinese and Taiwanese companies, the iPhone would be just an idea. Someone has to put all those ideas together, and its not happening in the US thats for sure. Oh some more food for thought, most of those companies also work with HP, Dell, and Others. Hope you enjoy that Apple Tax.

But the dude implied that all of Apple's engineering was being done in China and the only thing that Apple actually did was design. I'm sure the products have to actually be engineered in California before Apple's partners in China even get the actual device to manufacture.

Did I imply or say that all of their engineering was done in China? No.

 

[Goona]

Ah but thats where you are wrong. I am a Double E. You're not much for the real world are yah. You do realize that Apple uses its outside sources to "engineer" there ideas. If it wasn't for companies like Foxconn, TXC, Delta, Larger Precision, Altus-Tech, and many other Chinese and Taiwanese companies, the iPhone would be just an idea. Someone has to put all those ideas together, and its not happening in the US thats for sure. Oh some more food for thought, most of those companies also work with HP, Dell, and Others. Hope you enjoy that Apple Tax.

So Apple doesn't do any engineering work in California?

 

[Mattie Num Nums]

So Apple doesn't do any engineering work in California?

Unless you call their repair facility at Elk Grove, CA engineering. Apple designs products, patents them, and then finds companies to engineer there ideas. Most of these end up overseas. I do believe one of the only main American part is the Intel portion which is engineered and built in Albuquerque, NM.

Check this out
http://texyt.com/iphone+manufacturer+supplier+assembler+not+apple+00113

 

[Goona]

Unless you call their repair facility at Elk Grove, CA engineering. Apple designs products, patents them, and then finds companies to engineer there ideas. Most of these end up overseas. I do believe one of the only main American part is the Intel portion which is engineered and built in Albuquerque, NM.

Check this out
http://texyt.com/iphone+manufacturer+supplier+assembler+not+apple+00113

Going by your definition, no company does any engineering. What about all the software on the iphone, is that not done through engineering. Is that also done in China. You have to be really daft to say Apple does no engineering work.

 

[Mactagonist]

People who were hyped about the China market were overly optimistic. Sure, they have a lot of customers. Sure it is growing fast. But it is a horrible place for a foreign company to try to break in and do business. In the case of the iPhone there is huge 'under the table' competition from unlocked imports, there are notoriously arrogant, greedy and inflexible carriers to work with and there is nonstandard technology in use. (TD-SCDMA etc)

The US and EU are Apple's primary markets for the foreseeable future. China and other developing countries are just a peripheral interest for Apple.

 

[Mattie Num Nums]

Going by your definition, no company does any engineering. What about all the software on the iphone, is that not done through engineering. Is that also done in China. You have to be really daft to say Apple does no engineering work.

I never said Apple does NO engineering work. That is you saying that.

 

[kockgunner]

If you take into account that it took Apple over 200 days to sell 5 Mio iPhones in the US, these numbers look quite impressive.

Edit: My bad. They are talking about five thousand units. wtf?

Lmao! I love your edited reaction. Five thousand units is a laughable number and ironic coming from the country with the largest population in the world.

What's this talk about there being an Wifi enabled iPhone in China soon? Is it true? I've never heard of that.

 

[theheadguy]

Blame Unicom.

What a surprise.

 

[zombitronic]

Also, it is ironic that many are simply attributing poor sales to "crippling of devices" when in fact much of you have previously claimed missing features were of little consequence to the iPhone's success. Why has this position totally evaporated in this discussion?

Missing features which have never existed (natively) on the device vs. removing features which have existed since inception are two very different things. The poor "official" sales have much to do with the crippling of the device, especially since there is an official Wi-Fi enabled phone coming. If it had NOT been announced that the official Wi-Fi phone was coming, initial sales of the crippled phone may have been higher.

 

[Manderby]

But it is a horrible place for a foreign company to try to break in and do business. [...] there is huge 'under the table' competition from unlocked imports, there are notoriously arrogant, greedy and inflexible carriers to work with and there is nonstandard technology in use.

Which country are you talking about?
SCNR