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Apple, China Unicom strike 3-year deal

It looks like Daily Finance guessed correctly. Early on Friday, Apple and China Unicom Ltd (CHU) announced a 3-year partnership to officially bring the iPhone to China. CHU will buy the handsets from Apple on a wholesale basis and will not participate in revenue sharing. CHU is the 2nd largest carrier in China, while China Mobile is first with 498 million users. In fact, China Mobile is the largest carrier in the world and China is the largest market. CHU hopes to get a competitive boost with the iPhone.

As we noted in July, the iPhone will be sold with Wi-Fi disabled in China, in accordance with Chinese regulations (the so-called "Great Firewall of China).

If you're in China or plan to travel there, let us know if and when you begin seeing iPhones for sale.

[Via AppleInsider]

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Apple Corporate iPhone

It looks like Daily Finance guessed correctly. Early on Friday, Apple and China Unicom Ltd (CHU) announced a 3-year partnership to...
 

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John

I think the Unicom stores in china may already be getting shipments of Iphones in. We were at the E-mart in Tianjin on Sunday. The empty space across the path from the Unicom store had several trucks unloading pallets. The area around the store was taped off and was surrounded by at least 20-25 police. When asked, the police just said they were preparing for some event. But there is no event coming up in that area.

August 30 2009 at 11:30 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
alxndr

The photo you chose to run is of Mao's portrait on Tiananmen? Really?

August 29 2009 at 1:07 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jon

The question is if you have a 3GS bought in HK, will you be able to sign up for the service without having to buy a new phone?

August 29 2009 at 8:28 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Tom

That's very true Munford

August 28 2009 at 4:25 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Munford

The regulation of no wifi on phone has nothing to do with the great firewall. It only serves wireless operators interest to generate more revenue on their data service.

August 28 2009 at 2:17 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jason Hung

I feel like a broken tape recorder saying this, but if you're a Chinese citizen, take the subway to Hong Kong, get your legal iPhone 3GS with no carrier lock, no shafting by carriers, no contracts, and Wi-Fi enabled phone. If you're Chinese, chances

http://store.apple.com/hk

August 28 2009 at 2:12 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Jason Hung's comment
gib

... yeah, because all 1.3 billion people in China are within a subway ride to Hong Kong. There's 7 million in the HK area, so that store serves .5% of the country's population.

August 29 2009 at 1:39 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
s8n666

I only read this article, because when I saw the headline, I thought it said "Apple, Charlie the unicorn strike 3-year deal" Imagine my disappointment :(

August 28 2009 at 1:44 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Matthew

Wasn't there some sort of OS upgrade today? Don't you have writers in any other time zone besides Pacific?

August 28 2009 at 1:13 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ian

Did anyone else read that as "Apple and Chinese Unico r n " strike a deal?

Cause that I'd like to see.

August 28 2009 at 1:13 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Ian's comment
Cory

Yes!

August 28 2009 at 2:23 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Chris Lundie

If you jailbreak & turn on wi-fi, will you end up in prison?

August 28 2009 at 1:07 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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