iPhone preorders through China Mobile to begin this week - report
China Mobile, the largest wireless carrier in the world, will begin accepting preorders for Apple's iPhone this Thursday ahead of a formal launch later this month, according to a new report.
An unnamed representative for China Mobile confirmed to The Wall Street Journal on Monday that the carrier will begin taking preorders from customers later this week. It's expected that the iPhone will officially launch on China Mobile Dec. 18.
The carrier began taking preorders for smartphones with 4G LTE high-speed connectivity on Monday. Though the iPhone 5s was originally shown on the company's site, users could only preorder devices from companies like Samsung and Lenovo.
The representative who confirmed that iPhone preorders will begin on Thursday indicated that the company's customer services team has not yet been provided details on pricing plans for Apple's smartphone lineup.
Expectations of a Dec. 18 launch have persisted for weeks, though China Mobile itself attempted to pour cold water on those reports last week, when the carrier denied that a deal with Apple had been finalized. Instead, China Mobile insisted that talks with Apple were ongoing.
Anticipation of a deal between Apple and China Mobile has been high, particularly among investors, as the carrier boasts some 759 million subscribers, making it the largest wireless provider in the world. China Mobile is gearing up to launch its 4G TD-LTE network later this month, and Apple's new iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s are both expected to sport compatibility.
Analysts believe availability of the iPhone through China Mobile will add $10 billion in revenue to Apple's bottom line in calendar 2014. It's been predicted that China Mobile customers could buy an additional 17 million iPhones next year, representing about 10 percent of the current smartphone install base at the carrier.
An unnamed representative for China Mobile confirmed to The Wall Street Journal on Monday that the carrier will begin taking preorders from customers later this week. It's expected that the iPhone will officially launch on China Mobile Dec. 18.
The carrier began taking preorders for smartphones with 4G LTE high-speed connectivity on Monday. Though the iPhone 5s was originally shown on the company's site, users could only preorder devices from companies like Samsung and Lenovo.
The representative who confirmed that iPhone preorders will begin on Thursday indicated that the company's customer services team has not yet been provided details on pricing plans for Apple's smartphone lineup.
Expectations of a Dec. 18 launch have persisted for weeks, though China Mobile itself attempted to pour cold water on those reports last week, when the carrier denied that a deal with Apple had been finalized. Instead, China Mobile insisted that talks with Apple were ongoing.
Anticipation of a deal between Apple and China Mobile has been high, particularly among investors, as the carrier boasts some 759 million subscribers, making it the largest wireless provider in the world. China Mobile is gearing up to launch its 4G TD-LTE network later this month, and Apple's new iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s are both expected to sport compatibility.
Analysts believe availability of the iPhone through China Mobile will add $10 billion in revenue to Apple's bottom line in calendar 2014. It's been predicted that China Mobile customers could buy an additional 17 million iPhones next year, representing about 10 percent of the current smartphone install base at the carrier.
Comments
I think that a major reaction will await the actual formal announcement.
It'll be interesting to see how well Apple can keep up with the pent-up demand for these products in this new market.
An agreement was signed. An agreement was not signed. Preorders are being accepted.
500,000 iPhones per day are being built.
I think Tim Cook's three-day worldwide 9 million iPhone sales record is about to be shattered by one telephone company in one country in when the iPhones 5s and C officially become available.
By looking at the face of USA Vice President when he visited china , u know china won't send this gift to America.
Nobody seems to talk about what will happen to aapl if the deal isn't inked .
I hate to imagine the talks ... "Mr Vice President, agree to our new territorial waters expansion zone or we won't sign with Apple " ....
Originally Posted by crazy_mac_lover
The china mobile deal is not only business to business , it is also political to political .
By looking at the face of USA Vice President when he visited china , u know china won't send this gift to America.
Nobody seems to talk about what will happen to aapl if the deal isn't inked .
OMG ! Guess Apple is really Doomed! Any suggestions from your bright mind? /s
iPhones 5S/C already released in china at same time as USA etc.
Officially launched is rubbish, but I would not pay the local inflated prices.
Last Saturday I went to china mobile shop as my wife wanted a new upgrade package on her iphons5.
4G phones, all be it low end models, as Huawei and others for sell there and then, contracts by almost all visitors were for the 4G network.
I see around 5 people carrying iPhone 5S gold, much like myself.
there will be some initial demand but not what people expect and I am sure Apple know this. The reason is there are dam rich people and most who'd buy one will do so already.
From memory.
Prices for 4G started at 70RMB / month. (just over 10USD) this included a special offer for 500GB free 4G data on-top of the 300MB for two year contract.
Also the customer services person said and iPhone 5S/C from Hong Kong should also work fine with the China Mobile network with 4G.
The bonus data related to the local province, for most this is hardly an issue.
PS I work/live in Shenzhen, Guangdong, close to HK Border. for over 5years. And I am English.
As for political issues this you find is crap, Chinese business do not think anything about this, if there is a market and a profit. no relevance to governments. Apple / China Mobile deal is natural. As long as it stops me seeing 3nd rate Galaxy phones going to work then I be happier.
I been using 3G Unicom here, frankly 4G will not be much better and I don't want change my 6USD a month deal, it's speed is greater then the speed I get back in UK when I visit, go figure!
I am very excited and ready to see the dive of AAPL on 18th. FROM that day , u will become like me who disregard whatever news about Apple from Wall Shit Journal.
ONLY stupid will trust the so-called source from WALL SHIT journal which has a long history of posting misleading news of AAPL.
CHINA MOBILE has denied .
UPDATE: A China Mobile spokesman told CNN's Beijing bureau Tuesday that there was no deal yet with Apple (AAPL) and that the Suzhou site was not "official." He left open the possibility that it was some kind of test or experiment.
THINKING OF why CHINA MOBILE website has iphone? Look at the photos below.
Thinking of why there is POSTER from china mobile to sell iphone?
Thinking of the so-called PRE order website?
http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=zh-CN&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http://xq.139life.com/ask/company/index.jsp?subjectId=3939539&sID=39856969F2FA1D0A394FAD1C179FBE70&act=url
The questionaire has finished.
TIME TO WAKE UP , dude!!!!
as your said , I have bright mind
It's not an uncommon business tactic in China to try to screw over the other party even after a deal is supposedly done. China Mobile could continue to make demands well after an agreement is in place. Once Apple tells them the deal is off, they will become more accommodating...as long as CHL really wants the iPhone.