Neil Hughes
In an effort to drum up enthusiasm among investors for his company's new agreement with China Mobile, Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook participated in a rare TV interview on Wednesday, sharing the spotlight with Xi Guohua, the chairman of the world's largest wireless carrier.
Both Cook and Xi spoke with CNBC, and though the two parties revealed little, China Mobile's chairman did disclose that the carrier had netted 1.2 million total preorders for the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c as of Jan. 13. Both devices are set to launch on China Mobile this Friday.
Cook referred to the agreement as a "watershed day," and praised China Mobile for having a "very fast network." It was a rare television interview appearance by the Apple CEO, who participated in a high-profile appearance on NBC in late 2012.
In his latest appearance, Cook spoke of the "deep respect" he and Apple have for China Mobile, saying he has been "incredibly impressed" with them thus far. Unsurprisingly, neither Xi nor Cook opted to give estimates on how many iPhones they believe China Mobile could sell in its first year.
"We see this as bringing the world's best smartphone to the very largest and now the fastest network in China," Cook told CNBC.
Both men also sat down for an interview with The Wall Street Journal this week, in which Cook hinted that both companies could expand their partnership in the future. While Cook declined to get into specific plans, it's likely that Apple will introduce cellular-capable iPads on China Mobile, as it has done on other partner carriers' networks.
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66 Comments
I wish Tim Cook wouldn't give interviews to CNBC. They are so anti-Apple it isn't even funny. This morning they had Walter Isaacson on to tell us that Google has taken the innovation crown from Apple.
[quote name="Rogifan" url="/t/161588/tim-cook-makes-rare-tv-appearance-to-hype-apple-china-mobile-deal#post_2458043"]I wish Tim Cook wouldn't give interviews to CNBC. They are so anti-Apple it isn't even funny. This morning they had Walter Isaacson on to tell us that Google has taken the innovation crown from Apple. [/quote] Isaacson has been on an anti-Apple crusade lately. I think the guy's ingratiating himself for his next book. Looks like he'd love to do one on Musk or Bezos or Page. He used to have something interesting to say, but not anymore.
He used to have something interesting to say, but not anymore.
And just because he wrote a book on Steve Jobs doesn't make him an authority on Apple the company.
"neither Xi nor Cook opted to give estimates on how many iPhones they believe China Mobile could sell in its first year." Don't even care about that. I just want to know what the iPhone price is, and how much of that price goes to Apple.
I wish Tim Cook wouldn't give interviews to CNBC. They are so anti-Apple it isn't even funny. This morning they had Walter Isaacson on to tell us that Google has taken the innovation crown from Apple.
Apple are involved with Pro Desktops, Standard Desktops, Laptops, Tablets and Mobile Phones. Google are involved with Laptops, Tablets, Mobile Phones, GoogleGlass, Self-drive cars, Robotics and now Networked Home Accessories - and, of course, Search. Google's portfolio is more varied. Self-drive cars and Robotics have an exciting flare to them, a flare that Apple seems to lack at the moment. There is a lot of expectation for Apple to develop disruptive technology. They have earned that from past performance. It seems any development less than being market-disruptive, no matter how it may reflect admirable advances over previous iterations, gets a 'meh' from many Tech media sources.