WSJ: Apple preparing 'iPhone 5C' shipments for China Mobile, hints at new deal
Apple is reportedly set to ship a rumored less-expensive version of the iPhone to China Mobile, indicating that the two companies have finally signed an agreement that could see the iPhone access the world's largest cellular carrier's over 700 million subscribers.
Rendering of iPhone 5C in white. | Source: AppleInsider
Citing people familiar with the matter, The Wall Street Journal on Friday reported Apple is prepping shipments of a low-cost iPhone, dubbed by many as the "iPhone 5C," to China Mobile, suggesting the Cupertino, Calif., company has finally reached an agreement with the Chinese telecom.
While an official signed agreement has not yet been announced, Apple's planned shipments strongly suggest a deal was reached after years of negotiations.
The sources say Apple asked partner supplier Foxconn to add China Mobile to the list of iPhone 5C recipients, though not much else is known about the purported plan. It is unknown if the carrier will be part of a launch expected to happen toward the end of September, but news of the deal may be announced at Apple's Sept. 10 media event.
A report on Thursday claimed current Apple partner carriers China Telecom and China Unicom would be taking receipt of both the iPhone 5C and the flagship "iPhone 5S" variant for a Sept. 20 release. China Mobile was said to be waiting in the wings and could debut the iPhone on its network as soon as November.
Apple will be holding a special event in the U.S. on Sept. 10, to be followed hours later by a separate event for China media.
Rendering of iPhone 5C in white. | Source: AppleInsider
Citing people familiar with the matter, The Wall Street Journal on Friday reported Apple is prepping shipments of a low-cost iPhone, dubbed by many as the "iPhone 5C," to China Mobile, suggesting the Cupertino, Calif., company has finally reached an agreement with the Chinese telecom.
While an official signed agreement has not yet been announced, Apple's planned shipments strongly suggest a deal was reached after years of negotiations.
The sources say Apple asked partner supplier Foxconn to add China Mobile to the list of iPhone 5C recipients, though not much else is known about the purported plan. It is unknown if the carrier will be part of a launch expected to happen toward the end of September, but news of the deal may be announced at Apple's Sept. 10 media event.
A report on Thursday claimed current Apple partner carriers China Telecom and China Unicom would be taking receipt of both the iPhone 5C and the flagship "iPhone 5S" variant for a Sept. 20 release. China Mobile was said to be waiting in the wings and could debut the iPhone on its network as soon as November.
Apple will be holding a special event in the U.S. on Sept. 10, to be followed hours later by a separate event for China media.
Comments
Absolutely so. Watch AAPL tank on this news!
The rumor mill has taken all the fun out of Apple keynotes. Guaranteed to disappoint the pundits. Just you wait.
Absolutely so. Watch AAPL tank on this news!
Why do we care so much what pundits and Wall Streeters think, and how the shares are doing? This seems to dominate the discussions herein. Isn't it more interesting to talk about technology and products?
I can't wait to see what 'global' (which essentially means, 'with' as opposed to 'without' China) smartphone market shares look like one year from now.
Sammy is in for a very nasty surprise.
Why do we care so much what pundits and Wall Streeters think, and how the shares are doing?
I guess we're all investors now, not just consumers....
But bragging rights too, I suppose.
Why do we care so much what pundits and Wall Streeters think, and how the shares are doing? This seems to dominate the discussions herein. Isn't it more interesting to talk about technology and products?
Speaking of which, it's interesting the stock hasn't exploded on the China Mobile rumor... Probably just a precursor to another massive short.
Try to act surprised on Sept 10.
Funny! Best post!
Given that there are surely an immense number of well to do people amongst that 700 million subscriber base it would be a severe mistake to solely or even mostly offer a lower priced model to China Mobile subscribers.
Today the "C" means China. I wonder what it will be tomorrow.
"Classic"?
I happen to hate the numbering. Much prefer the Macbook system: "Early 2011", "Air" or whatever, same with iPods.
Given that there are surely an immense number of well to do people amongst that 700 million subscriber base it would be a severe mistake to solely or even mostly offer a lower priced model to China Mobile subscribers.
If the C works, so will the S, I am guessing. It probably won't be subsidized, that's all.
Given that there are surely an immense number of well to do people amongst that 700 million subscriber base it would be a severe mistake to solely or even mostly offer a lower priced model to China Mobile subscribers.
Yes, except if new stories are to be believed, a lessor expensive model is a precursor for a China Mobile deal. This likely is to make up for China Mobile wanting to pay Apple less.
The rumor mill has taken all the fun out of Apple keynotes. Guaranteed to disappoint the pundits. Just you wait.
It's not the "rumor mill", it's the big news outlets that report the rumors as facts. I can't tell you how many times people come up to me (they know I'm an Apple person) and say, "Have you heard about the new phone Apple came out with?" Then they go on to list features that don't apply to any current Apple phone. I quickly correct them that it's only a rumor and Apple hasn't announced or released anything yet. Then they argue, "Yes they have, I heard it on such-and-such news."
It's getting old.
It's fun to guess what's coming, as long as you keep an open mind and don't carried away in all the rumors and speculation. Honestly, I've never been disappointed with any of their keynotes and product announcements, they're always fun and usually interesting.
So having said all of that, my guess, in order of likely hood...
1. The "C" stands for COLOR. This is the most obvious.
2. The "C" stands for CLOUD. Along with an iTunes account, it will require users to sign up for an iCloud account. The phone will have minimal internal storage (8GB, maybe 16GB) keeping costs down and carriers happy with all the data usage from users using iCloud for more and more storage.
3. The "C" stands for CHINA. This new iPhone 5C is a model made specifically for China Mobile, featuring built-in apps and services for the carrier. Apple only made 6 million original iPhones - there is far, far more potential sales with China Mobile. I'm guessing in a year Apple will have sold 50+ million iPhones on this carrier alone.
4. The "C" stands for COMMERCIALS. For the lower price of the phone, Apple will subject users to ads in each of its stores: AppStore, iTunes, iBookStore, Apple Store, etc., and possibly even inject ads into Mobile Safari.
It's not the "rumor mill", it's the big news outlets that report the rumors as facts. I can't tell you how many times people come up to me (they know I'm an Apple person) and say, "Have you heard about the new phone Apple came out with?" Then they go on to list features that don't apply to any current Apple phone. I quickly correct them that it's only a rumor and Apple hasn't announced or released anything yet. Then they argue, "Yes they have, I heard it on such-and-such news."
It's getting old.
It's fun to guess what's coming, as long as you keep an open mind and don't carried away in all the rumors and speculation. Honestly, I've never been disappointed with any of their keynotes and product announcements, they're always fun and usually interesting.
I propose this quote be auto-posted in every rumor thread.
2. The "C" stands for CLOUD. Along with an iTunes account, it will require users to sign up for an iCloud account.
I don't think that's legal, is it? And the two accounts are the same.
This is from the timelines where Hitler won. " src="http://forums-files.appleinsider.com/images/smilies//lol.gif" />
And the fact that we constantly read the rumors from the mill.