China Unicom Web Site Posts iPhone Information, Launching Soon?

[iMacoo7]

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...

I saw that as well. I honestly think that China has been waging war because they know there is a new iPhone and want the newest technology , instead of bringing in the "older" model iPhones to the table.
Maybe they are going to wait to finish the deal once the new iPhone emerges and then offer the 3G iPhone as well.... Who knows....

 

[xsecretfiles]

More penetration is definitely good, but this may be a bit premature

THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID!

 

[lazyrighteye]

With a new iPhone just a few months away, it would seem weird to launch the iPhone in China - today - with a year-old model. Yes?

From what little I know, doesn't the current iPhone 3G lack features the Chinese have come to expect from even their basic devices?
Sure, the 3.0 update goes a long way towards closing any [perceived] software gaps (which is already years ahead in many, important ways). But it seems like there are some hardware features (eg: camera pixel count or video recording or...) the current iPhone 3G lacks, leading me to think a successful Chinese launch would greatly depend on a hardware-revised iPhone & not the current 3G design.

I don't know...

 

[amac4me]

With a new iPhone just a few months away, it would seem weird to launch the iPhone in China - today - with a year-old model. Yes?

The timing seems a bit odd. One would think that they would wait for the next iPhone revision.

 

[DELLsFan]

All Communist regimes want their share (of the control many seem to play down) either indirectly or directly. I think China is far more interested in RED than they are the GREEN, IMO. As such, I predict that if the iPhone does start selling in China, the following will follow:

1. Wi-Fi will be disabled or strictly monitored.

2. Location Services - won't be able to disable.

3. SMS will be disabled or strictly monitored.

4. Cost to citizens will preclude sales from making significant market share jump.

5. iPhone inventory stock levels in the US will begin to fluctuate (more so than they do now; especially closer to the June announcements) as Apple will want to be ready for the millions and millions of iPhone they'll want to sell.

6. Apologists for dictatorships like the one in China will note the increased exposure to the Chinese of American innovation and technology (uniquely represented by Apple) and assert China's moral relativism to the United States even more than they do now.

But as someone said, let's not talk about that - lest we all start seeing RED.

 

[jibern]

Unicorn?

I thought it said China Unicorn.

 

[mw2009]

All Communist regimes want their share (of the control many seem to play down) either indirectly or directly. I think China is far more interested in RED than they are the GREEN, IMO. As such, I predict that if the iPhone does start selling in China, the following will follow:

1. Wi-Fi will be disabled or strictly monitored.

2. Location Services - won't be able to disable.

3. SMS will be disabled or strictly monitored.

4. Cost to citizens will preclude sales from making significant market share jump.

5. iPhone inventory stock levels in the US will begin to fluctuate (more so than they do now; especially closer to the June announcements) as Apple will want to be ready for the millions and millions of iPhone they'll want to sell.

6. Apologists for dictatorships like the one in China will note the increased exposure to the Chinese of American innovation and technology (uniquely represented by Apple) and assert China's moral relativism to the United States even more than they do now.

But as someone said, let's not talk about that - lest we all start seeing RED.

Well, There are free WIFI spots in most starbucks and local coffee shops in BeiJing (Capital of China if you don't know). Free WIFI in most coffee shops at airports. There are lots of WIFI spots in China's major cities. Matter of fact, I was using my girlfriend's iPhone on a local coffee shop's WIFI spot at Shanghai the other day.

Chinese don't normally use voice mail. They use SMS. Without SMS, iPhone or any phone will not sell.

There tons of unlocked 2nd generation iPhones in China right now. They are everywhere now on the street.

Anyway, it's a great news. I am not fan of unlocked iPhones. This will give me a reason to get one finally.

 

[guzhogi]

I think I remember reading in an older China iPhone thread that the iPhone would cost several months' pay for many people in China. I don't know if that's true, but if it is, I doubt many Chinese people will buy an iPhone. But with over 1 billion people, even 1% marketshare would mean 10 million people.

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 . . .

I was going to say the exact same thing.

 

[hacksaw-C87]

Anyone remember all those websites that were offering iPhone nano cases? ...I'm still waiting for my iPhone nano to be announced by Apple!

I'm not saying a new iPhone isn't coming in the near future, but do we know that this source is 100% reliable?

 

[Eraserhead]

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

Seriously, you have no idea. I've actually personally used WiFi in China, in fact I've even used the BBC and Wikipedia there.

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

And on the American iPhone the only application you can get is one that gives you free super-sized upgrades at McDonalds .

 

[Jonny75]

China isn't the only crippled iPhone. Some of the US allies are too! (Egypt for one has no GPS.)

This - if at the right price - could be a great business move for Apple.

And as for ludicrous statements that Apple is now the No 1 mobile phone company... there's a LONG way yet.

 

[kerolau]

I feel quite strange about the picture.

1. The tabs next to Apple iPhone show there would also be Android G1, Xperia X1 and Nokia N97 for Unicom customers. I don't think all these would come to China at the same time.

2. People can only choose "silver black" colour, but we know iPhone 3G is in plastic black or white.

3. Some problem on wordings. 支持 is not the best translation of "support" in Chinese, also "other MacOSX" sounds weird.

4. that typo, 07/2008

 

[mw2009]

I think I remember reading in an older China iPhone thread that the iPhone would cost several months' pay for many people in China. I don't know if that's true, but if it is, I doubt many Chinese people will buy an iPhone. But with over 1 billion people, even 1% marketshare would mean 10 million people.



I was going to say the exact same thing.

There two kind of people will buy iPhone. City middle class and spoiled middle school or college students. Smart phone are selling like hot cake in China. The price are from 3500-8000 Chinese Yuan (about 500-1200 US dalloar). Yet, there are no short of people buying them. Many of my Chinese friends change at least one phone per year. These people may be 1% of the market, but yeah, it's a big "1%".

 

[=MuLti-CeLL=]

With a new iPhone just a few months away, it would seem weird to launch the iPhone in China - today - with a year-old model. Yes?

From what little I know, doesn't the current iPhone 3G lack features the Chinese have come to expect from even their basic devices?
Sure, the 3.0 update goes a long way towards closing any [perceived] software gaps (which is already years ahead in many, important ways). But it seems like there are some hardware features (eg: camera pixel count or video recording or...) the current iPhone 3G lacks, leading me to think a successful Chinese launch would greatly depend on a hardware-revised iPhone & not the current 3G design.

I don't know...

I agree.

This is a placeholder for now and reality in July with new model.

 

[SFStateStudent]

My understanding is that China already has the "iPhonie" and it can only send/receive calls from the Ministry of State Security, and the same for SMS as well. Regardless of the number that you dial the person on the other end answers: "Ministry of State Security, how can I direct your call from your Apple/China Unicom 3G iPhone, which happens to be 12-13 months old, operating on Firmware 1.1.4, jailbroken, and how did you get those nice dangling charms attached to your iPhone?" LMAO

 

[mac 2005]

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

That's not obvious at all. Having traveled to China, I found wi-fi access to be widespread and unfettered.

 

[BTW]

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

There's already a huge following in the jailbroke market.

Yes, the iPhone will take China by storm (not the Blackberry kind either) when they go live with China Mobile. It is ironic that it has taken this long since the iPhone is made in China.

 

[mikeinternet]

So they'll get the 2nd Gen right in time for the rest of the world to get the 3rd?

 

[sjo]

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...

nokia by far. they're even more dominant in smart phones with about 70% market share.

http://news.softpedia.com/newsImage...nese-Market-Goes-to-Nokia-and-Motorola-2.jpg/

 

[arkitect]

I am curious why people seem to think that the market in China for the iPhone would at all be interested in an outdated model?

Many of you obviously have no idea of the sophistication in urban China.

It's not all just bicycles and little red books you know.

 

[jdisenberg]

placeholder

I think that if this Is indeed true, it is placeholder using the 2g phone. The info also says that it come with a "sync charge cradle". The iPhone 3g didn't come with this...

 

[Eraserhead]

I am curious why people seem to think that the market in China for the iPhone would at all be interested in an outdated model?

I think its probably a placeholder to be honest, though I'm not sure what 3G coverage is like in China as I only have a 2G phone.

 

[Mac-Addict]

Surely if there were to be an updated iPhone in the summer, the current iPhone wouldnt be launched with a few months before it gets updated?

 

[yongxiaofeng]

for most of you do not speak chinese

I think this site is more of a sneak peek of the upcoming 3G network

And on the iPhone's webpage, it displays Google G1 and other 3G phones at the same time.

I am not sure if it means the G1 is also going to join China Unicom.

Above is my comment based on the website.

===============================================
However, friend of my friend's dad is management team in Unicom, and he has told us, the deal between apple and China Unicom is actually done. We may see it anytime from now till summer.

 

[cswiger1]

till it's a "verzon has the newest iphone" rumor... it really doesn't matter to me...

...well <thinking out loud> let me look at AT&T rates. I am getting married soon...

(is it really "thinking out loud" if all you did was type it? ....probably not)