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AAPL Stock: 502.21 ( 0 )

Chinese iPhone deal nearing completion

updated 09:55 am EDT, Thu June 11, 2009

Chinese iPhone deal near


After more than a year of efforts, a deal for a Chinese iPhone may finally be nearing completion, writes IDG. An unidentified Apple phone has appeared in the approved product list of the State Wireless Inspection Center, having last month been granted clearance for an assigned frequency range for up to five years. Apple is also said to have posted an ad for a Beijing-based worker, who would oversee creating training material for Asian iPhone carriers.

Perhaps more significantly, China has finally lifted a ban on Wi-Fi in cellphones, which was designed to restrict the flow of information in the country. The one caveat is that Wi-Fi-enabled phones must use an official Chinese security protocol, WAPI. The iPhone may or may not be able to communicate with WAPI networks using a software upgrade, says BDA analyst Liu Ning.

The most like carrier partner for Apple is believed to be China Unicom, which already has a WCDMA network compatible with the iPhone's 3G technology. Unicom is said to be pressing for the pre-installation of of its own apps however, and possible revenue sharing at the App Store, both of which run counter to Apple's normal business strategy. Two government tests also remain before the iPhone is officially sanctioned.


by MacNN Staff

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Comments

  1. iphonerulez

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Nov 2008

    0

    What the heck do they

    need their own apps for when there's 50,000 already out there? Can't they just write some apps and submit them like anyone else. Suppose AT&T asked to add their own apps to the iPhone (and nobody would be able to remove them). I'd sure like to know China Unicom's reason for this to see if it makes any sense at all.

  1. testudo

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Aug 2001

    -1

    Re: What the heck...

    They want their own for the same reason everyone wants their own (verizon and ATT on phones, or PC makers, and anything else, really). Money.

    Plus they probably need to install some apps that will allow the gov't to listen in on conversations and track internet access. Oh, right, they don't need that, they already can do that from the main servers.

    Oh, and when you get your phone from AT&T you already get a boatload of apps you can't remove. Except their from Apple. (Seriously, why can't you remove those blasted things - their weather app is pointless, the stock ticker is of no concern and several other things just take up space.

  1. rtbarry

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Aug 2001

    +1

    i bet the stock ticker...

    ...is of no concern. for you.

    it is for those of us who are riding the AAPL wave. again.

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