China Unicom Chairman: To Launch 2 Versions Of 3G iPhone In China
August 28 2009 - 5:32AM
Dow Jones News
China Unicom Ltd. (CHU) said Friday it signed a three-year
agreement with Apple Inc. (AAPL) to sell the iPhone in China, with
an official initial launch likely in the fourth quarter.
China Unicom Chairman and Chief Executive Chang Xiaobing said at
a news briefing the company will offer two versions of the
third-generation iPhone.
The company, China's second-largest mobile carrier by users,
hopes the iPhone will give it a long-sought competitive edge over
its larger rival, China Mobile Ltd. (CHL), allowing it to attract
an elite customer base in Chinese cities, where cellphones are
often status symbols.
China Unicom had 141 million users at the end of July, compared
with 498 million for China Mobile, the most of any carrier in the
world.
China Unicom didn't elaborate on its iPhone plans in a
statement, but investors are eagerly anticipating details on
pricing, the service package, and the extent of handset subsidies.
It is also unclear whether the device's Wi-Fi Internet function
will have to be disabled to comply with Chinese regulations.
Apple spokesman Alan Hely confirmed the deal with China Unicom,
but declined to give further details.
-By Lorraine Luk and Aaron Back, Dow Jones Newswires; (8610)
6588-5848; aaron.back@dowjones.com