Published : Dec. 23, 2013 - 10:04
아이폰 5S (AP)
애플이 차이나모바일과 아이폰 5S,5C 다년 공급계약을 맺었다고 22일(현지시간) 밝혔다.
이에 따라 내년 1월17일부터 아이폰 5S와 5C제품이 차이나모바일 스토어에서 판매된다. 오는 25일부터 사전 예약을 할 수 있다.
애플은 자세한 계약 내용은 공개하지 않았다.
국영 차이나모바일은 7억5천만명의 고객을 확보하고 있다. (연합뉴스)
Apple reaches deal to bring iPhone to China Mobile
Apple says it has reached a deal to bring the iPhone to China Mobile, the world's biggest phone carrier.
The deal ends a lengthy courtship and could boost sales of the iPhone in China. The iPhone, once hugely popular in China, has been eclipsed by the rise of lower-priced rival smartphones from Samsung and Chinese companies.
The iPhone 5S and 5C will go on sale in Apple stores and China Mobile stores beginning Friday, Jan. 17. China Mobile customers can register for phones starting Wednesday.
The companies didn't announce pricing or the terms of the agreement.
The iPhone, while popular around the world, has faced tough competition in recent years from cheaper smartphones running Google's Android software. Collectively, Android phones far outsell Apple's iPhone.
Analysts speculate that Apple could sell another 10 million to 40 million more phones if it reached a deal with China Mobile.
Apple CEO Tim Cook told the official Xinhua News Agency in January that he expects China to surpass the United States as its biggest market. Some 50 million iPhones have been sold in China in the past 2 1/2 years, according to analyst estimates.
China Mobile, which is owned by the Chinese government, has more than 750 million mobile accounts. However, a survey by Bernstein Research said some China Mobile consumers use smaller carriers for data service. Apple already has agreements with China Telecom Ltd. and China Unicom Ltd., which have about 455 million mobile accounts.
China Mobile wants to have the world's largest 4G network, and the new iPhones might help it win over customers. The company received approval to start operating the faster network earlier this month and plans to have 4G services available in 16 cities by the end of 2013. It aims to provide coverage for 340 cities by the end of 2014. (AP)