China to Finally Get iPhone 4 in September?
China Unicorn, one of the largest telecomm companies operating inside of China, is poised to start selling the iPhone 4 for the first time to Chinese mobile phone consumers starting this September 2010. China Unicorn already provides the distribution for the Apple iPhone 3GS, so the move to iPhone 4 is expected by many to be a legitimate prediction rather than a baseless rumor. First reported on by a television blurb released at the recent China Internet Conference in Beijing, China Unicorn was marked as the company with which “the iPhone 4 may enter the mainland market by as early as next month,” as the report is quoted as stating via a televised broadcast.
The prediction is not without controversy, as in China the iPhone brand is seen as much more expensive at the outset and in regards to subscription fees for money-pinching Chinese consumers (who tend to prefer the cheaper Android handset judging by sales figures). Apple has been noted as saying that they view the Chinese market as a strong potential area for growth in terms of sales, so as the saying goes time will tell what the future will bring. There was the initial speculation that the Apple will start by selling Wi Fi enabled 3GSphone in China, however most of speculation surrounds an introduction of latest & greatest handset in worlds largest phone marketplace. And this doesn’t necessarily preclude sale of 8GB 3GS model, that is still to be offered for the sale on Apple site. It is likely that China Unicom may give less costly phone, which is priced at around $99 in U.S., in China to have less costly alternative in arsenal, besides iPhone 4. There is a few speculation that high price of iPhone was the barrier to iPhone sales in China.
