China

AAPL takes heat on missing China Mobile deal, talks still underway

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

The Wall Street Journal earlier this month asserted that China Mobile and Apple had finally cut a lucrative distribution agreement that would put the iconic smartphone on the world's largest mobile network with more than 759 million subscribers, or more than twice the U.S. population.

China Mobile Shanghai’s website has even offered iPhone 5s/5c pre-orders as the giant wireless operator is gearing up to launch its new 4G TD-LTE mobile network in the 1.33 billion people country, Apple's second-largest market by revenue.

But alas, the deal hasn't materialized although the WSJ story suggested that Apple and China Mobile would announce the iPhone agreement "around December 18".

With no deal in sight, shares of Apple dropped nearly two percent in early trading Wednesday, with the carrier confirming to Reuters that it's still in talks with Apple. And so the cat-and-mouse game continues...

China Mobile aggressively promoting iPhones and iPads for big launch

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Earlier this month, reports surfaced that China Mobile and Apple finally inked a deal for the carrier to begin offering iPhones to its some 700 million+ subscribers. Yesterday, China Mobile confirmed the news, taking pre-orders for the iPhone 5s and 5c.

And it looks like the world's largest carrier is enthusiastic about its new partnership with Apple, as it has gone all out on marketing materials for the launch. Many China Mobile retail stores have dedicated much of their ad and display space to iOS devices...

Apple comments on death of 15 year-old Pegatron factory worker

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Apple and its Asian supplier Pegatron, which manufactures the iPhone 5c, have come under heavy fire this week following the unexplained deaths of at least five factory workers. Even worse is that one of them, a boy, was just 15 years old.

It's since been determined that the teenager used forged identity documents saying he was 20 years old to get the job. And today, Apple gave an official statement on the incident, saying it has sent independent medical experts to investigate...

WSJ: China Mobile to start taking iPhone pre-orders this Thursday

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 9, 2013

The long-enduring game of cat and mouse between Apple, the maker of the world's most popular smartphone, and China Mobile, the world's top wireless carriers with more than 700 million subscribers (the equivalent of over twice the US population), looks to be ending as the carrier is expected to start taking pre-orders for the iconic device later this week, reports The Wall Street Journal.

As the carrier is gearing up to launch its long-expected high-speed fourth-generation network services on December 18, China Mobile Shanghai’s website on Monday invited potential customers to pre-order the iPhone 5s and other smartphones from Samsung and Sony that support China Mobile's new 4G TD-LTE mobile network...

Contradictory report reveals Apple hasn’t inked China Mobile deal yet

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

After the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday said that anonymous sources claimed Apple and China Mobile have finally inked an iPhone distribution agreement, most outlets, including us, reported it as a fact.

Add on top of that the carrier's Suzhou subsidiary opened a reservation system for the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c and the fact that China Mobile is gearing up to launch its fourth-generation Long-Term Evolution (LTE) mobile network this month and it's no surprise that everyone bought the WSJ report.

But now, an influential news organization relays words of a China Mobile official who insisted that the deal has not been inked yet...

WSJ: Apple and China Mobile finally ink iPhone deal

Cody Lee ∙ Updated December 23, 2017

Following a number of rumors and reports over the past few weeks, The Wall Street Journal is reporting this evening that Apple and China Mobile have finally inked an iPhone deal. The outlet says it's scheduled to launch later this month.

The deal, which has also been confirmed by state-run news outlet Xinhua and a China Mobile subsidiary, comes after nearly 6 years of on-and-off negotiations, and will give Apple access to China Mobile's 700 million+ subscriber base...

China Mobile quietly opens iPhone 5s, 5c reservation system

Cody Lee ∙ Updated August 4, 2016

Late yesterday evening, China Mobile quietly launched a reservation for the iPhone 5s and 5c via its subsidiary in Suzhou—a major city in Eastern China. This serves as one of the first concrete traces that Apple has in fact reached a deal with the world's largest carrier.

Rumors about the partnership have intensified in recent months, and in November, the state-run news outlet Xinhua reported that an official announcement would be made on December 18. The two sides have been negotiating an iPhone deal for more than 5 years...

Thai man allegedly electrocuted by charging iPhone

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 23, 2018

Another iPhone electrocution has been reported in Asia—this time in Thailand. A 28 year-old man was reportedly killed while using an iPhone 4s, which was believed to be charging using an unauthorized third-party charger.

According to a report from Thai language news outlet Daily News Thailand, on Monday, police in the Rayong province found an unnamed man lying dead on the floor of his home holding a burnt iPhone 4S in his left hand...

China Mobile to launch its 4G LTE network next month

Cody Lee ∙ Updated June 21, 2017

Rumors have been circulating for the past few weeks that China Mobile is on the verge of launching its LTE network next month. And it looks like the reports were true, as the news has been confirmed this week by state-run news outlet Xinhua.

This is big news for a couple of reasons. For one, this will be the country's first major rollout of 4G. And two, it means Apple will finally be able to start offering its two latest iPhone models on China Mobile, as they support its TD-LTE standard...

Considerate iPhone thief mails 1000 handwritten contacts to owner

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

It's hard to imagine how someone could call a person who stole your iPhone 'considerate,' but that's exactly how some media outlets are referring to a certain Chinese pickpocket. The thief took a man's iPhone during a shared cab ride.

The reason why some are calling the criminal considerate is that shortly after stealing the handset, he mailed the owner a list of his contacts. And this wasn't simply a computer printout, he hand wrote over 1000 contacts–11 pages worth...

China Mobile expected to launch iPhone December 18

Cody Lee ∙ November 21, 2013

After years of negotiations and several months of rumors, it looks like China Mobile is finally going to land the iPhone next month. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the carrier is expected to announce the "new brand" for mobile services on December 18.

Apple and China Mobile have long been reported to be in partnership discussions, and Tim Cook has been seen at the company's headquarters in Beijing multiple times. But for whatever reason, the two sides have been unable to reach an agreement. Until now...

Samsung beating budget phone vendors in China, Apple losing ground

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 6, 2013

Apple may be winning in the United States, the world's top market for smartphones, but in the 1.33 billion people market of China - which is Apple's second most-important territory revenue-wise - Samsung is beating local vendors of cheap handsets to the punch.

According to data from research firm Canalys, Samsung has overpowered rivals in China.

The company has grown its September quarter share to 21 percent, a notable jump from just fourteen percent a year earlier. The Galaxy maker was estimated to have shipped nineteen million smartphones during the third quarter ended September 30. It's worth underscoring Samsung does not disclose unit sales like Apple does, citing competitive reasons.

For the most part, Samsung's growth came at the expense of local vendors who build dirt-cheap handsets. But what about Apple?