iPhone 5 set for China launch on Dec. 14
Staff Reporter 2012-12-01 16:48
Customers at an Apple Store in Hong Kong. (File photo/Xinhua)
The iPhone 5 is set to be launched in mainland China on Dec. 14 as the country's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology granted Apple's latest smartphone a network license on Friday. Consumer electronics retailers are launching packages to promote sales of the new device, which was first released in September.
Both the WCDMA and CDMA2000 versions for the Chinese market have obtained licenses, clearing the final barrier to its release. Media reports say an unlocked iPhone 5 may be priced at 5,399 yuan (US$867) while smartphones sold through China Unicom and China Telecom may retail at 5,880 yuan (US$932) and 5,780 yuan (US$928) respectively. Subscribers may get the phone for free if they sign a two-three year contract with the carriers, according to the Chinese-language Beijing Morning Post.
So far the telecom operators have yet to reveal their packages but this does not mean competition between them has not yet began. China Telecom in particular is relishing joining in the competition with China Unicom, which in the past was the only official retailer for the iPhone in China.
A staff member at Suning Appliance, one of the country's leading electronics retailers, said customers who pre-order the smartphone at Suning stores will have the chance to use their birthday or the lucky digits 8 and 6 in their phone numbers. Such customized numbers usually will cost thousands of yuan to buy. Suning outlets in Beijing are offering 500 yuan (US$80) in gifts to clients who pre-order the iPhone 5 if they pay a 100-200 yuan (US$16-$32) deposit.
Reports that the case of the new smartphone is easily scratched have also led to a boom sales of protective covers and cases as well as other accessories.
Suning said it has received over 1,700 orders for the smartphone since it began accepting pre-orders at its stores and website in November.
