Apple and China Mobile, the largest carrier in the world with over 760 subscribers, have signed an iPhone deal, Apple have announced.
China Mobile was among the country’s three carriers to be awarded their first 4G licenses at the beginning of December.
Apple says this deal will help the company gain much more market share in the Chinese market, by far the largest in the world today.
The deal means that iPhone 5s and 5c will be available not only from Apple retails stores across the country, but also China Mobile’s massive network of shops as well as, from January 17th, 2014.
Starting on Xmas day (25h December, 2013), the two iPhones will be available for pre-registration from www.10086.cn, China Mobile’s official website, and customer service hotline – Tel: 10086.
Xi Guohua, China Mobile Chairman, said:
“Apple’s iPhone is very much loved by millions of customers around the world. We know there are many China Mobile customers and potential new customers who are anxiously awaiting the incredible combination of iPhone on China Mobile’s leading network. We are delighted that iPhone on China Mobile will support our 4G/TD-LTE and 3G/TD-SCDMA networks, providing customers with high-speed mobile service.”
“Apple has enormous respect for China Mobile and we are excited to begin working together. China is an extremely important market for Apple and our partnership with China Mobile presents us the opportunity to bring iPhone to the customers of the world’s largest network.”
“iPhone customers in China are an enthusiastic and rapidly growing group, and we can’t think of a better way to welcome in the Chinese New Year than getting an iPhone into the hands of every China Mobile customer who wants one.”
China Mobile today has:
- Over 1.2 million 2G/GSM, 3G/TD-SCDMA, 4G/TD-LTE base stations.
- More than 4.2 million Wi-Fi access points which provide broad coverage to quality networks for customers with both types of iPhones.
- The world’s largest 4G network.
- China Mobile’s 4G service is available in the country’s major 16 cities, including Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing.
- By the end of 2014 over 340 cities will have 4G service cover.
China soon to become world’s largest iPhone market
China is expected to become Apple’s largest market, overtaking the US in 2014.
China Telecom and China Unicom, the country’s other two major phone carriers, already offer iPhones to their users.