CHINA NPC: China Unicom: Working With Apple To Introduce iPhone With Wifi Functions
March 06 2010 - 2:32AM
Dow Jones News
China Unicom (Hong Kong) Ltd. (CHU) is working with Apple Inc.
(AAPL) on introducing the iPhone with wifi functions to China as
soon as possible, China Unicom Chief Executive Chang Xiaobing said
Saturday, without giving a more specific timetable.
He said the iPhone in China is priced similarly to iPhones in
other markets after calling plan costs are taken into account, but
added he understood people would like to see lower prices. China
Unicom will lower iPhone prices if conditions permit, Chang said.
He declined to comment on whether the company has any plans at
present to lower the price.
Not including discounts on service, Apple and Unicom charge $730
to $1,020 for the iPhone, making it more expensive than "gray
market" iPhones brought into the country through such places as
Hong Kong.
China Unicom is the only Chinese telecom operator that offers
the iPhone in China, though larger rival China Mobile Ltd. has
repeatedly said it in talks with Apple to offer the iPhone in the
country.
Chang said China Unicom currently has no plans to invest in a
bank and doesn't think it necessary to take a stake in a bank to
develop mobile payments. His comment comes after China Mobile said
earlier this week it is in talks with Shanghai Pudong Development
Bank Co. on taking a stake in the lender. The move could help it
expand into mobile e-commerce.
Chang said China Unicom and its parent company's capital
expenditure would fall this year
-By Aaron Back, Dow Jones Newswires; (8610) 8400-7701;
aaron.back@dowjones.com
China Unicom (NYSE:CHU)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jun 2024 to Jul 2024
China Unicom (NYSE:CHU)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jul 2023 to Jul 2024