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China Mobile and Apple talk 4G iPhone launch

2012-05-17 10:18 Shanghai Daily     Web Editor: Zhang Chan comment

China Mobile is talking with Apple Inc to unveil the new iPhone that will run on the telco's 4G network.

"China Mobile and Apple both have the will to strengthen cooperation," Xi Guohua, China Mobile's new chairman, said yesterday, without elaborating.

Xi, however, didn't provide details of the cooperation during his speech at a shareholders' meeting in Hong Kong. Apple declined to comment on the issue.

China Mobile is expected to team up with Apple to launch the iPhone which supports TD-LTE, a home-grown 4G technology that provides 10-20 times faster Internet access speed for mobile device users.

China Mobile will expand 4G network trials to nine cities from six in 2011, and add 20,000 base stations to the 900 it built last year.

At present, China Telecom and China Unicom are Apple's carrier partners on its popular smartphone on the Chinese mainland, and their tie-up has hurt China Mobile's market share in the high-end 3G segment.

The sales of iPhone in China may reach 25 million units this year and at least 35 million units next year if China Mobile and Apple don't come to a deal. If they have a deal, the iPhone sales in China will jump to 125 million units in 2013, Deutsche Bank said.

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