China Mobile still considering Apple partnership for iPhone
By Will Park on Tuesday, March 4th, 2008 at 6:07 PM PST In Apple, China Mobile, Rumors, iPhone
In a country where the leading wireless operator has over 350 million subscribers (more than the entire population of the US), China is a dream wireless market for handset vendors. So, is it any wonder that we keep hearing about China Mobile (NYSE: CHL) and Apple (NSDQ: AAPL)?
We have to wonder, were Apple and China Mobile ever in negotiations to bring the iPhone to China? Well, some reports indicate that the talks were called-off because China Mobile was not willing to agree to Apple’s revenue-sharing model. Others say that Apple and China Mobile were never actively negotiating an iPhone deal – with no more than a single meeting. And, now we’re hearing that China Mobile is still seriously considering bringing the iPhone to China. “We have not yet officially begun talks with Apple over the iPhone problem,” according to China Mobile CEO Wang Jianzhou.
But, there are some problems. The iPhone’s $500 price tag is still more than double the average Chinese worker’s monthly salary, and the revenue sharing model that Apple is so hell-bent on making every iPhone carrier agree to could be a renewed (or new, depending on who’s telling the truth) point of contention.
We’ll see if Apple can crack the Chinese wireless market without having to rely on smuggled, unlocked iPhones.
[Via: Mobile Crunch]
Hey, man, did you realize that the logo is for China Unicom instead of China Mobile? Or did you just use that on purpose.
Yep that’s the Unicom logo alright … Wang Jianzhaou would not be too happy … especially when Chain Telecom acquires China Unicom’s GSM division and with the Ministry of Information and Industry’s authority wins both a 3G license and the rights to build out the W-CDMA network in China. That’s enough to get Apple’s attention … especially in light of the major issues with China Mobile’s TD-SCDMA network.
Good chance Apple signs with the newly combined China Telecom/Unicom … look for an announcement shortly following the Olympics in concert with the China telecommunications industry restructuring.
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