Katie MarsalThe paper cited a Daiwa Institute of Research analyst as saying Beijing has not yet approved handsets with such features, and that Apple's iPhone manufacturing partner Foxconn is now waiting for authorization to begin shipping models to China Mobile with the W-CDMA and Wi-Fi chips disabled.
Cellular News (by way of CNet) explains the odd request is a result of competitive concerns. China Mobile is believed to be building its 3G network using the Chinese developed TD-SCDMA format, so it hopes that disabling 3G functionality will deter users from unlocking the device and jumping ship to rival China Telecom, whose network supports W-CDMA.
"Apple shouldn't customise a model of iPhone for the mainland market, given that it only provides a standardised product to operators around the world," Frederick Wong, an analyst with BNP Paribas, told the Post.
For its part, China Mobile is all too familiar with the propensity of consumers to unlock iPhones when given the opportunity. Market research firm In-Stat reported earlier this year that ">400,000 unlocked iPhones were loose on the carrier's network, which represented about 10 percent of the units ever produced at the time.
In its report, the Cellular News highlighted the broad market opportunity presented to Apple by the Chinese market. Unlike in the US, where advanced smart phones still cater to a relatively small percentage of users, the market in China is a vast, entertainment-oriented business driven by consumers.
"The main reasons that Chinese mobile users purchase smartphones include entertainment and to access mobile Internet applications," the publication said. With In-Stat estimating that 20 percent of handsets sold in the region cost more than 4,000 RMB (US$533), that adds up to 28 million potential iPhone buyers.
Christine McKee
Wesley Hilliard
Malcolm Owen
Andrew Orr
William Gallagher
Sponsored Content
52 Comments
Wait, if the iPhone would not work with CM's TD-SCDMA anyway, then what's the problem with this? Of course, the WI-FI block goes to far.
So wait, does China mobile get their ideas from Verizon or vice versa?!?!
I suppose they are worried about the speed at which they could find the websites that show their gymnasts are really 14
Ok, fine, so I'll give them the 3G thing (although it's insanely anti-competitive but we are talking about China here) but why the Wi-Fi??
I suppose they are worried about the speed at which they could find the websites that show their gymnasts are really 14
They want to be sure the overly anxious reports of successful rocket launches can't be downloaded before the rockets are actually launched.
As for Wi-Fi, perhaps government regulations for handsets with Wi-Fi are too onerous or China Mobile has Wi-Fi hotspots that it believes would not be able to keep up with bandwidth demands? Just speculating. It sure would be nice to know what's up with that.
They want to be sure the overly anxious reports of successful rocket launches can't be downloaded before the rockets are actually launched.
As for Wi-Fi, perhaps government regulations for handsets with Wi-Fi are too onerous or China Mobile has Wi-Fi hotspots that it believes would not be able to keep up with bandwidth demands? Just speculating. It sure would be nice to know what's up with that.
It's cause they don't want users accessing the internet on their phone without paying for it through their network.
Let China wait , give Malaysia iPhone first
Besides, they deserve it, poor babies .