China Unicom Web Site Posts iPhone Information, Launching Soon?

[MacRumors]

Macworld reports that a regional branch of China Unicom has posted information [Google translation] related to the iPhone on their web site.

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.

Apple has been trying to bring the iPhone to China, the world's largest mobile phone market, but has struggled to come to agreements with the country's largest carriers. Talks with China Mobile, the country's largest provider, have broken down numerous times, although the company still claims to be in negotiations with Apple.

Apple's efforts with China Unicom, the world's third largest mobile provider with over 125 million GSM subscribers, have apparently proven more fruitful, with previous rumors pointing to a May launch of the iPhone on their network.

Article Link: China Unicom Web Site Posts iPhone Information, Launching Soon?

 

[RTiii320]

Good to hear, I don't see why it took this long to arrive there in the first place.

So they are only getting the 2G version, rather then the 3G's??

 

[bigandy]

More penetration is definitely good, but this may be a bit premature considering the reports of talk breakdowns...


RTii320, negotiations can be nightmarish even with a best selling product. I'm sure uptake will increase after this news.


They're a mixture of 3G and 2.5G iPhones there. Weird. But, placeholders.. Prolly not that important...

 

[happydude]

if this takes off in china, apple will be the number one mobile phone seller in the world

 

[iMacmatician]

The date (at least I think it's the date) says July 2008, is that a typo?

 

[chenazhi]

no wifi?

obviously WIFI function has been cut off by China's government.

 

[bigchief]

Another reason why apple will not have time to produce a CDMA phone.

 

[ivladster]

wtf

Is it either a poorly designed page or its a place-holder for the new iPhone. Even pictures are of both 2G and 3G iPhone. However in the features there are things like "animated screensaver" which is very weird. I think its just a teaser page for July 2009.

 

[yuhaii]

It is not accurate information! It is only an introduction of the current phones supporting for 3G. As I know about chinese mobile market, THIS means nothing.....sorry

 

[lftrghtparadigm]

On the plus side a small percentage of market share in China would double iPhone sales worldwide.

 

[yuhaii]

obviously WIFI function has been cut off by China's government.

Any proof? what's the meaning to cut off the WIFI function? or you mean the totally internet connection is banned in CHINA....

 

[cshen]

obviously WIFI function has been cut off by China's government.

It's not the government but the carriers.

 

[plumbingandtech]

if this takes off in china, apple will be the number one mobile phone seller in the world

Anyone know who is the "big dog" in chinese mobile phone suppliers now? I mean the cost of the iphone will not make it #1 but I was wondering if Nokia or Samsumg are already big there or is an in country brand is the most used...

 

[Saladinos]

Good to hear, I don't see why it took this long to arrive there in the first place.

So they are only getting the 2G version, rather then the 3G's??

WCDMA = UMTS = 3G

 

[175170]

Any proof? what's the meaning to cut off the WIFI function? or you mean the totally internet connection is banned in CHINA....

I dunno about that, but you should know that China is pretty strict when it comes to a lot of things.
During the Olympics, the whole iTunes store was blocked by the Chinese Government, because it was selling a "Free Tibet" Album.
Made me pretty angry when I couldn't use the App store at all on my MacBook, even when I was just visiting.
Didn't work on my iPod Touch either.

 

[GorillaPaws]

Sadly, the only app allowed on the Chinese App Store, is a digital version of the little red book...

 

[175170]

Anyone know who is the "big dog" in chinese mobile phone suppliers now? I mean the cost of the iphone will not make it #1 but I was wondering if Nokia or Samsumg are already big there or is an in country brand is the most used...

There isn't really a "Big Dog" in China right now.
Mostly it's a bunch of small Chinese companies fighting against Motorola and the like.
Haven't really seen Samsung and LG there though.
But even if it does come to China, it is doubtful it will gain any market share. (IMO)
If you've ever been to China, they think that a camera phone is amazing, especially when it's above a megapixel.
If you look at the average wages in China, it's even more depressing.

 

[plumbingandtech]

Sadly, the only app allowed on the Chinese App Store, is a digital version of the little red book...

All your 25K iPhone apps r belong to us:

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=303880907&mt=8


Edit: Thanks dvdhsu! Appreciate it!

 

[lOUDsCREAMEr]

Seems it's NOT the iPhone 3G we are using.. crippled iPhone 3G anyone??

Missing wifi?? (the spec says GSM/WCDMA/EGDE/GPRS), available in silver / black.
No mention of bluetooth / app store /camera

 

[175170]

It's not the government but the carriers.

That would actually make a lot of sense, as they would like to make more money.
Perhaps they'll limit the data on the iPhone to something like 50 megabytes, and charge horrific prices for data overusage.

Sadly, the only app allowed on the Chinese App Store, is a digital version of the little red book...

Unfortunatley so.

 

[Kardashian]

There's also a flash video on the website showing the iPhone moving in a spiral with their other flagship models, such as the G1.

Also interesting, there's a flash video showing 2 iPhone's, and photo's being messaged/moved between the 2.

Lastly, the photo's shown next to the iPhone's information box are mostly of the first gen.

So I'm guessing they will launch with the new iPhone, rumoured this summer. (which is why they're not using 'current' photos)

 

[idannyb]

iPhone in China negotiations

For full backstory on iPhone in China negotiations read >
http://idannyb.wordpress.com/2009/03/23/apples-iphone-in-china-negotiations/

More on China Unicom's visit to Cupertino >
http://idannyb.wordpress.com/2009/03/20/china-unicom-visit-to-cupertino-confirmed/

I believe the China Unicom delegation was in town for the 3.0 presentation on March 17

 

[Viking369]

hardly a surprise

In the iPhone OS 3.0 keynote China was one of the countries marked as red - ie. iPhone distribution.

Am i the only one who saw that? Do i really need to go back and watch the damn thing again?

Plus as this slide was about app store, i guess that's an indication as to whether or not they'd allow the app store there...

 

[3247]

So they are only getting the 2G version, rather then the 3G's??

Er, the web page says: “GSM 850/900/1800/1900Mhz，支持 WCDMA，支持 GPRS/EDGE”

WCDMA = UMTS/HSDPA = 3.5G

 

[happydude]

There isn't really a "Big Dog" in China right now.
Mostly it's a bunch of small Chinese companies fighting against Motorola and the like.
Haven't really seen Samsung and LG there though.
But even if it does come to China, it is doubtful it will gain any market share. (IMO)
If you've ever been to China, they think that a camera phone is amazing, especially when it's above a megapixel.
If you look at the average wages in China, it's even more depressing.

is the phone subsidized by china unicom at all? would help the price adoption. yes, the wages are bad, but then, aren't the phones made in china? employee discounts they should also save on shipping costs . . .