toggle

AAPL Stock: 499.91 ( + 6.49 )

Apple, China Mobile iPhone talks ended?

updated 10:40 am EST, Fri November 30, 2007

Apple, China Mobile spat?


Apple and phone carrier China Mobile have reportedly broken off negotations over the iPhone, according to one publication. Chinese newspaper Southern Daily cites anonymous sources, who claim that talks begun earlier this month have already ended, and that Apple is instead moving on to other cellphone distributors. If Apple successfully forms a deal, iPhones could go on sale in China as soon as next summer, in new retail stores opening in Beijing. The failure of the negotiations is being blamed on revenue sharing; as some observers have noted, revenue sharing is simply not practiced in China, while Apple has so far managed to secure lucrative sharing agreements with other networks such as AT&T.

Speaking with Bloomberg however, China Mobile insists that the Southern Daily story is false, and that negotiations are still very much in progress. Apple does not have many options when it comes to China, as the only other established wireless carrier is China Unicorn. The iPhone may also have to go on sale there at a lower profit margin, since the American version can easily cost twice a Chinese worker's monthly salary.


by MacNN Staff

toggle

Comments

  1. rytc

    Senior User

    Joined: Jan 2001

    0

    iPods

    Well the iPods don't sell for any less in CHina despit being several months salary for a lot of people - so I doubt the iPhone will be any different.

  1. coffeetime

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Nov 2006

    0

    opportunity

    Because of the high price U.S. products, it prompts counterfeiter to come out an iPhone imitator. It's an opportunity for local business.

  1. G. I.

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Nov 2005

    0

    Chinese are not stupid

    To pay couple of $100s Apple tax that Apple achieve because the rip off of the same Chinese people in sweat shops.

  1. testudo

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Aug 2001

    0

    Re: oppurtunity

    Um, that 'opportunity' time has long since passed. Many an imitation is already available.

  1. ZinkDifferent

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jan 2005

    0

    imitations

    ....and they are priced very close to what the iPhone costs, so not much of an 'opportunity'

Login Here

Not a member of the MacNN forums? Register now for free.

 
close
Photo
toggle

Network Headlines

toggle

Most Popular

10 Most Read

Recent Reviews

Logitech Cube

The world of mice could often be described charitably as stagnant: it's an endless sea of ergonomic shapes that assume you're sitting ...

NewerTech and Targus USB Hubs For Gifts

A useful holiday present to resolve an ongoing frustration is a multi-port hub. Whether as a stocking stuffer, Chanukah present, or an ...

X-Rite ColorMunki Photo

Color calibration is the art of tweaking your monitor so that the colors represented on screen better match real life and your printer ...

toggle

Most Commented

10 Most Discussed