China greenlights Wi-Fi-equipped iPhones
updated 01:05 pm EDT, Fri July 9, 2010
Approves new model with WAPI support
The Chinese government has granted network license access for a new iPhone, one prepared for the country's WAPI security standard, reports say. The approval comes by way of the Telecommunications Equipment and Certification Center, and supplied photos suggest it is linked to an iPhone 3G or 3GS. With WAPI support, it should now be possible to sell a Wi-Fi-equipped iPhone in China.
The iPhone was officially launched in the country late last year, but only with unique models that had Wi-Fi stripped out. This may have inherently limited its appeal, since China already had a thriving gray market of devices from other regions, where WAPI is not required. Plans for the iPhone 4 have not been cemented; carrier China Unicom, however, says it hopes to have the device by the end of 2010.
Mac Elite
Joined: Oct 1999
WTF
gotta love that country.. you need a effing "Internet license" to operate a search engine, and you need a "network license" to sell wi-fi devices....