Apple and China Mobile today announced they have entered into a multi-year agreement to bring iPhone to the world’s largest mobile network. As part of the agreement, iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c will be available from China Mobile’s expansive network of retail stores as well as Apple retail stores across mainland China beginning on Friday, January 17, 2014. iPhone 5s, the most forward-thinking smartphone in the world and iPhone 5c, the most colorful iPhone yet, will be available for pre-registration from China Mobile’s official website (www.10086.cn) and customer service hotline “10086” beginning on Wednesday, December 25, 2013.
“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,” said Xi Guohua, China Mobile Chairman, in a statement.
“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,” said Tim Cook, Apple CEO, in a statement. “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 now has over 1.2 million 2G/GSM, 3G/TD-SCDMA, 4G/TD-LTE base stations and over 4.2 million Wi-Fi access points, providing broad coverage to quality networks for iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c customers. China Mobile is rolling out the world’s largest 4G network. By the end of 2013, China Mobile’s 4G services will be available in 16 cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. By the end of 2014, China Mobile plans to complete the rollout of more than 500,000 4G base stations, which will cover more than 340 cities with 4G service. The collaboration between Apple and China Mobile will give a big boost to the development of China’s homegrown 4G/TD-LTE technology. iPhone on China Mobile supports major cellular network standards, making a global phone a reality for China Mobile customers.
iPhone 5s redefines the best smartphone experience in the world with amazing new features all packed into a remarkable thin and light design, including the Apple-designed A7 64-bit chip, all-new 8 megapixel iSight camera with True Tone flash and introducing Touch ID, an innovative way to simply and securely unlock your phone with just the touch of a finger. iPhone 5c features an all new-design in five gorgeous colors and is packed with features people know and love like the beautiful 4-inch Retina display, blazing fast performance of the A6 chip, and the 8 megapixel iSight camera—all while delivering great battery life. iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c both offer more 4G LTE bands than any other smartphone in the world and include all-new FaceTime® HD cameras.
iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c come with iOS 7, the most significant iOS update since the original iPhone, featuring a stunning new user interface, completely redesigned with an elegant color palette, distinct, functional layers and subtle motion that make it feel more alive. iOS 7 has hundreds of great new features, including Control Center, Notification Center, improved Multitasking, AirDrop, enhanced Photos, Safari® and Siri.
Details of pricing and availability of iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c for China Mobile will be available at a later date.
Source: Apple Inc.
MacDailyNews Take: Boom!
The neat thing is the Chinese can just build their own iPhones! 😉
I bet APPL drops 20 points on Monday, Because Apple is doomed. Not! The ANALists Have between now and premarket to spin this one.
Buy on rumors sell on fact
Do. Not. Worry.
Anticipation of this deal is likely already baked into Apple’s stock valuation. If it dips on Monday, shrug your shoulders and ignore the rancor. The bottom line is that Apple is now officially a product line that will be actively marketed by China Mobile. And over time, this will greatly increase sales and earnings for Apple.
As a stockholder, it means that over time, this will significantly contribute to the earnings of Apple and its stock valuation. I don’t worry what happens from day to day, or what analysts think. I only worry about Apple’s ability to grow its earnings and increase its cash. Those are the things that have material impact on the stock’s valuation.
The analysts will likely underestimate the long term impact of today’s announcement. Let them. Their ignorance is your opportunity. View today for what it is: a significant announcement that benefits every Apple stockholder.
And to the bloggers who will whine tomorrow that sales won’t begin until January 17, they should consider that the factories pumping out iPhones for the holidays are at full capacity. By waiting until January, two benefits occur:
1. It gives the factories time to ramp up inventory for the first rush of sales inside China to China Mobile customers
2. The launch coincides with a significant holiday month in China
Congratulations to everyone at Apple who stayed patient through what must have been years of incredibly frustrating and difficult negotiations. Someday, people will understand that Tim Cook is a much better manager than many fanboys who hang out on this site may understand.
Season’s greetings everyone.
I think you likely overestimate the intellect of those particular ‘fanboys’ on this site.
@Brian,
Very well said. I get tired of the manipulaters and lack of justice, but I have been long since 2005.
Thank you thank you thank you.
Not really. It’s sourced from all over Asia, to prevent such a thing. It’s only assembled in China.
“It’s only assembled in China.”
Therefore the word “build”.
Right, but ‘sourced’ part means the Chinese couldn’t make it themselves, they’d have to deal with JP/KOR/TW, which of course they couldn’t do, since a) they’re not Apple b) they’re not Apple, c) they don’t have Apple’s buying power.
The only reason they can assemble the iPhone is because Apple does all the legwork. Never mind the, ahem, software.
Christ on a crutch, I was simply joking. Why the hell are you making a big deal about it?
Because it’s actually a very interesting tactic that Apple is using to save their asses. To anyone who still things Chinese copycats could just flick a switch and make an iPhone, Apple is way way way ahead of them on this one.
A friend of mine is part of the iPad Hardware Design team, and he flies all over Asia meeting with designers. China is just the endpoint. 🙂
You smell or kimchee loser
Samsung sucks dirt bag And Apple Rule
Get use to it!
What are you babbling about, you imbecile?
Sadly he sounds like an antiSamsung Troll. Not a pleasant sight either way.
That a boy Timmy!!! Well done apple!! My prediction 40+ mil units in 2014!!!
Easy 40 million …..
With no word on pricing or subsidies, that number seems to be quite a stretch. Not one person on Wall Street would believe that high a number is possible. Apple has over $100 billion in overseas reserve cash and they should offer interest-free financing for Chinese consumers if the subsidies are not enough. I feel Apple should take a very aggressive stance to moving iPhones on all of China’s major telecoms if they can increase inventory enough to meet demand.
I prefer to downplay sales numbers until we actually see some trends taking place. I don’t want to see Wall Street expectations go through the roof and then not have them met. That’s just too painful to endure.
Put THAT in your pipe and smoke it ANALists. Apple is utterly DOOMED now. /S
So KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo was completely wrong about poor sales of Apple’s less-expensive iPhone 5c holding up an anticipated China Mobile deal.
The only thing more moronic than that piece of bullshit analysis, was the sheer number of bloggers reposting that crap as the factual reason why the deal was being held up.
the final tell on this whole deal was the increasing advertisements in China for the big China Mobile intro of iPhone to CM………
The 5c production impeded the ramp up for the 5s inventory………
GLTA……….!$$$
Of course, he is a lying piece of fecal matter like so many analysts out there trying to make a name for themselves by spouting pure BS. There are so many reasons a deal could be held up, meaning a mutual agreement of timing to get things into place and not a delay. My GUESS would have been to increase iPhone inventory to acceptable levels based on the iPhone inventory shortages DoCoMo encountered. I would clearly state it as my opinion and not try to pass something off as fact. Analysts and the new media should not use a term such as delay when there has never been an official announcement of a specific time. That’s like saying there has been a two-year DELAY for Apple and China to reach agreement and that’s clearly not the case.
Agreed, its incredibly difficult to finalise deals with the Chinese just check out their tea ceremonies for a clue. When you have a company that won’t compromise on the product it sells while you have the other party dominant in the biggest market in the World and very self confident despite wishing to offer this product you are going to get a very long drawn our process. And Chinese New Year is far more important for them than Christmas so 2 and 2 make 4 here instead of the Analyst’s 5 or 6. For Apple its simply means it can concentrate full production on Western markets pre Christmas and then turn it to the Chinese market post Christmas when otherwise production would decline somewhat. Yes maybe Cook isn’t so stupid after all eh.
Patience is a virtue…
Happy Holidays, Happy New Year!
2014 will be an All Apple Year.
Hey Raymond – Choke on this…
Today Apple will drop ! -20 points
Raymond,
You’ve been naughty this year. You said just a few days ago there was no deal! Now here is the official deal.
Annnnnnd now, the stock is going to go down? You’re my new lucky troll! I just need to do the opposite of whatever you say, thanks!
There have been a few delusional posters on here in that regard who refuse to accept the blindingly obvious because it wasn’t announced yesterday. They aren’t the type who set trends in this World.
Hey Raymond…How does it feel to be in prison with us as your keeper?………..BITCH!
It up $20 pre market at 6:11am asshole.
(http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=AAPL)
The deal was being held up on Apple’s end. They timed it perfectly. They announced in time to take orders for the Chinese new year, but waited until it wouldn’t impact Western Christmas inventories. Tim and company smoothed out the demand curve so that demand wouldn’t overwhelm production. Good show!
One small step for CM, one giant leap for Apple as Cook expands the (infrastructure) reach into China.
The mind boggles.
Wow! According to analysts, Apple will be able to sell a whopping 15 million iPhones a year on China Mobile, if they’re lucky. Hold on to your hats as Apple stock might actually go up dizzying $5 a share on Monday.
/s
china mobile pre order number will disappoint anal ists .
Apple dived .
If Apple can’t pass $575 , then very likely it will drop back .
Considering your complete lack of credibility at this point, it’s amazing you still bother to post here. You bear such unfathomable shame.
Let ‘s see
raymond is shameless, actually a sociopath, as he has no shame nor intelligence so acts on the word of the paying samsung bloggers.
On other news, MDN seems to be hibernating.
Who cares? Anyone who wants an iPhone on China Mobile has one already! It took Apple how many years to get on that network? China Mobile was the driver this time around while Apple was the passenger! Hopefully all carriers now use this leverage to do the same in future talks!
AAPL is Doomed!
Where’s all the wacko analysts now. Didn’t see that coming did they.
DoCoMo caved, so did CM