China

CDMA iPhone on its way to China, Korea, and Japan?

By Allyson Kazmucha, Thursday, Jan 13, 2011 a 12:34 pm

Looks like the CDMA variant of Apple's iPhone might eventually make its way to carriers in China, Korea, and Japan. According to the not always reliable Digitimes, Apple suppliers currently expect around 7 million CDMA iPhones to be sold in the first quarter of 2011. That's a lot of iPhones, no matter how you look at it.

iPads in China come standard with 2-year AppleCare protection plan

By Leanna Lofte, Thursday, Nov 18, 2010 a 7:19 am

The two-year AppleCare protection plan now comes standard on iPads purchased in China. In all other countries, the iPad comes with a one-year warranty for repairs and 90 days of telephone support. AppleCare extends this warranty and support to two years and can be purchased for an additional $0.99. Why is China so special?

The Chinese government has classified the iPad as a laptop computer, and in China, it is required by law that a two-year warranty be included with the purchase of any computer. This is extremely interesting because there have been many debates on whether the iPad is "good enough" to replace a computer or laptop. China says "yes!"

Apple opens online store for China

By Staff, Wednesday, Oct 27, 2010 a 11:40 am

Apple has launched their online store for China, a streamlined store that includes the iPhone, iPod, iPad and Mac product lines. The store also includes free shipping, an option for custom engravings on your iPod or iPad, and it is also the only place online where you can currently grab the iPod Nano in the (PRODUCT RED) variant. From Apple COO Tim Cook:

We are thrilled to open our newest online store in China. With personalized engraving, configure-to-order options and free shipping on everything, the Apple Store is a great destination for our customers in China.

To top it off, Apple has made their App Store available in Simplified Chinese, making it easier for citizens of China to access the 300,000+ apps available for the iPhone and iPod touch (or at least as many of them as are offered in China).

iPhone 4 coming to China on September 25

By Rene Ritchie, Monday, Sep 20, 2010 a 9:35 am

Apple announced last night that iPhone 4 would be headed to China on September 25, availability will be via:

Apple Retail Stores including the new Apple Store® Hong Kong Plaza in Shanghai and the new Apple Store Xidan Joy City in Beijing opening on the same day. iPhone 4 will also be available on Saturday at China Unicom retail stores for qualified buyers with a new two year contract.

And pricing:

iPhone 4 will be sold in China through Apple’s retail stores for a suggested retail price of CNY4,999 for the 16GB model and CNY5,999 for 32GB model without a contract. At China Unicom stores, iPhone 4 will be available for qualified buyers with a new two year contract, sold separately. For pricing and tariff information please visit www.10010.com.

iPad now available in China, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru

By Rene Ritchie, Friday, Sep 17, 2010 a 8:31 am

iPad is now available in China, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, as previously announced, and as Gizmodo points out, celebrating new Apple gears is a cross-cultural, seemingly universal phenomena.

[Han Ziwen became the first iPad owner in mainland China today, and was carried out of the Beijing Apple store on employees' shoulders. He even made a t-shirt for the occasion: "I BUY IPAD NO 1". Image via Getty]

Cue the folk music. Then go enjoy your new iPads.

[Gizmodo]

China Unicom launching iPhone 4 (with Wi-Fi!), iPad

By Rene Ritchie, Tuesday, Aug 17, 2010 a 8:22 am

Looks like iPhone 4 will hit China Unicom next month, and with Wi-Fi to boot. Apparently the iPad is coming as well, but not at the same time -- or any time specified at all yet.

Previous versions of the iPhone in China have controversially not included Wi-Fi and suffered in sales compared to real iPhones sold unlocked in Hong Kong or smuggled in via the gray market.

Airtel Bringing iPhone 3GS to India, China Mobile Wants in on iPhone and iPad

By Rene Ritchie, Friday, Mar 19, 2010 a 6:58 pm

While it's easy to think the iPhone 3GS is everywhere now, TiPb still gets email asking when it will be in India, and on the largest carrier in the largest market in the world, China Mobile.

Well Macworld tells us Airtel has finally announced they'll be bringing the iPhone 3GS to India:

New Delhi, March 19, 2010 : Bharti Airtel and Apple have reached an agreement to bring iPhone 3GS, the fastest most powerful iPhone yet, to India in the coming months. For information please visit www.airtel.in/iphone3gs. For more information on iPhone, please visit www.apple.com/iphone .

Chinese Online Retailer Sells Five iPhones in First Two Weeks

By Jeremy, Friday, Dec 4, 2009 a 11:19 am

One would think that if the iPhone went on sale in the Chinese market it would sell like mad. So far, this is simply not the case as one of the largest Chinese online retailers, Taobao.com, has sold a total of five iPhones within the first two weeks of the device being available. China Unicom is also a seller of the phone but as of today, no official numbers have even been released.

iPhone in China Not Selling So Well... Official Version at Least

By Rene Ritchie, Thursday, Dec 3, 2009 a 2:39 pm

No big sales in China, it seems, and no big surprise given the low initial numbers we saw, and the prevalence -- and huge pre-existing install base -- of black and gray-market iPhones (with wifi!) smuggled into the country. And if that sounds apologist'ic, yeah, sorry. But iLounge is reporting:

Taobao.com, the largest Chinese e-commerce web site reports that it has sold only two 8GB iPhones and three 16GB iPhones since it began selling them on Nov 22nd.

So, sky fallen for the iPhone in China? Still fall

iPhone Launches (Officially) in China!

By Rene Ritchie, Friday, Oct 30, 2009 a 9:10 am

Today's the day -- the iPhone officially launches in China on China Unicom. We say officially because it's been available unofficially, in gray market form, since the original iPhone 2G was launched, and with winks and nudges via Apple's unlocked sales in Taiwan and Hong Kong.

So will international sales tumble as the world's biggest market can buy it at home? Will Chinese sales lag in favor of sticking with the unofficial versions from overseas or future Chinese versions that, you know, include Wi-Fi? Or will iPhone numbers just continue to grow, grow, grow?