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.