China

More purported next-generation iPhone cases surface

Cody Lee ∙ Updated February 7, 2016

The rumor mill has been pretty active this week, coughing up more information regarding Apple's next smartphone. In the last few days, we've seen not one, but two sets of pictures of purported engineering samples for the unreleased handset.

With that, it seems like the evidence is really piling up in favor of the taller, two-tone iPhone design that first surfaced back in May. And apparently that's enough for accessory-makers, who are already churning out large batches of next-gen iPhone cases...

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Chinese resellers already taking pre-orders for next-gen iPhone

Cody Lee ∙ July 12, 2012

The next-generation iPhone is one of the year's most highly-anticipated smartphone releases. The handset is expected to be one of the line's biggest updates since it was introduced, 5 years ago.

According to a new report, consumer demand for the unreleased device is already bubbling. And some Chinese resellers are taking advantage of the hype, by taking pre-orders for the phone...

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Apple says iPad coming to China on Friday, July 20

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 10, 2012

Now that its trademark fight with ProView has been settled for a cool $60 million, Apple this morning issued a release announcing the new iPad will finally land on store shelves in China on Friday, July 20. Both cellular and WiFi models of the new iPad will be on offer in the 1.33 billion people market, through both its few retail stores and authorized resellers...

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New report reiterates why Apple needs China Mobile deal

Cody Lee ∙ July 9, 2012

A new report is out this morning regarding the current state of the smartphone market in mainland China. With three providers on the world's 20 largest carriers list, and more than a billion cell phone users, the country is quickly become a battleground for smartphone-makers.

The new data comes from Needham & Company's Charlie Wolf. The analyst issued his quarterly report on the smartphone industry today, and it contains both good news and bad news for Apple's handset business...

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Apple reportedly looking to launch new iPad in China this month

Cody Lee ∙ Updated October 25, 2016

Apple released its third-generation iPad in March of this year, and by most accounts it's been wildly successful. The company sold nearly 12 million tablets last quarter. And thanks to its agressive international push, it's expected to top that this time around.

There has been, however, one notable country left off the new iPad's passport: China. Complicated government approval processes and a nasty trademark battle with Proview have kept the popular tablet out of Apple's second largest consumer market.

But it looks like the wait is almost over...

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Apple said to tap AutoNavi to offer iOS 6 mapping services in China

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 5, 2012

Bloomberg just reported that Apple likely chose AutoNavi to offer mapping services in China. Citing "two people with knowledge of the matter", the publication claims that Apple chose AutoNavi, a Chinese maker of electronic navigation tools, to offer map services for "users of future iPhones and iPads in China" (what they meant is iOS 6-enabled devices)...

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Apple’s risky retail gamble in China: one store per 216 million customers

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

In China, each of Apple's retail stores serves on average 216 million customers. Therein lies the catch to its expansion in the 1.33 billion people market - Apple needs way more stores in this huge country than it can possibly build, and it needs them yesterday.

China is important not just because it has recently displaced the United States as the world's leading smartphone market, but also because it now contributes to one-fifth of Apple's total revenue. Also, Apple says China stores have become its highest trafficked and among the highest revenue stores.

Apple CEO Tim Cook recently toured China, talking greater investments with local officials and paying a visit to Foxconn's new manufacturing plant in Zhengzhou. It was a telling acknowledgment of the importance of China at the highest level, but barely enough to change the fact that the iPhone maker is in serious danger of becoming a victim of its own success in China...

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Apple settles ‘iPad’ trademark dispute with Proview for $60 million

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

A new report is out tonight, claiming that Proview and Apple have finally reached a settlement in their 'iPad' trademark dispute. The two companies have been in and out of courtrooms for over a year, fighting over the moniker.

The battle has seen Apple's tablet barred from sales in a number of cities and provinces around mainland China. And Proview, an electronics manufacturer, was at one time reportedly seeking $1.5 billion in compensation...

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China Unicom in talks to extend Apple partnership

Cody Lee ∙ June 20, 2012

It looks like folks who were worried about Apple's progress in China can rest easy. Thanks to "better than expected results," China Unicom is in talks with Apple to extend its current 3 year partnership.

The Chinese telco is the tenth largest carrier in the world, and was Apple's first iPhone partner in mainland China back in 2009. And it appears that the relationship has been equally good for both parties...

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In iPhone deal, Baidu to share search revenue with Apple

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 16, 2016

In what could only be called a major agreement, the dominant Chinese search engine Baidu will share its search revenue with Apple for making it the default choice for Chinese iPhone users, it's been confirmed.

Though Baidu also shares revenue with Google on Android handsets that use its search engine, strong sales of Apple's devices in the 1.33 billion people market are bound to maximize opportunities for both companies...

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