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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.

 
Previous Comments

iPods

11/30, 11:45am reply

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.

rytc

Mac Enthusiast

Joined: Jan 2001

0

opportunity

11/30, 11:54am reply

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

coffeetime

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Nov 2006

0

Chinese are not stupid

11/30, 12:59pm reply

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

G. I.

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Nov 2005

0

Re: oppurtunity

11/30, 01:28pm reply

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

testudo

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2001

0

imitations

11/30, 01:41pm reply

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

ZinkDifferent

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jan 2005

0

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