Filed under: Hardware, Retail, iPhone
China Unicom to start selling the iPhone in October
Hong Kong-based China Unicom released details today concerning its August announcement of a three-year deal to sell the iPhone. Sales of the iPhone will begin in October, dovetailing with its October 1st 3G network launch, and will be priced at approximately 5000 Yuan, or around US$730. The iPhone will be sold in both Apple retail stores and through Unicom's own network of stores, and plans for the iPhone will range from 126 Yuan to 886 Yuan, or about US$18 to US$130. There will also be a handset subsidy, depending on the chosen plan above 126 Yuan, which maxes out at 4253 Yuan, or about US$623.China Unicom competes heavily with the larger China Telecom, which is believed to be in negotiations to distribute the Palm Pre.
Details here (in Chinese.)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
jasonh said 1:52PM on 9-28-2009
730 USD for an iPhone that is carrier locked, has wireless disabled and ties you to a contact?
I'm sure any sensible Chinese person will have friends in Hong Kong and order the iPhone online at http://store.apple.com/hk that is factory unlocked, has wifi enabled. Hong Kong is 2-3 hours away by plane from Beijing, or a 10-minute subway away from China if you live in Shenzhen. Any Chinese person can enter Hong Kong without too much difficulty, and most mainland Chinese companies have their main offices located in Hong Kong for stock exchange listing.
Anyone who can afford 730 USD for an iPhone in mainland China is much better off purchasing it from Apple Hong Kong.
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Lauren.Hirsch said 1:55PM on 9-28-2009
Well, maybe I didn't make it clear enough, but the phone will be subsidized for those buying a plan 126 Yuan or above, and that subsidy could be as much as 4253 Yuan, or $623. That would bring the capital cost of the iPhone down to about $100.
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Andy said 2:10PM on 9-29-2009
I have to agree with Jason that China Unicom is going to have a hard sell on there hands with a wifi free iPhone. Especially when you consider the market for smart phones on the mainland and the availabilty of a fully capable phone in so close by in Hong Kong.
Also, China Unicom is a Beijing-based state-owned enterprise and is not from Hong Kong.
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