As per news reports, Apple has inked deal with China Mobile, the world’s biggest wireless carrier, to bring the iPhone to customers in a market dominated by low-cost Android smartphones. This deal will enable Apple to gain entry into the huge Chinese market and China Mobile’s estimated 760 million subscribers, and to push good amount of its recently launched iPhone 5S and 5C smartphones in China with bundled offers. The other advantage for Apple from this deal is that China Mobile is also rolling out the world’s biggest 4G network in China.
As per the agreement between Apple and China Mobile, iPhone 5S and 5C will be available at China Mobile and Apple retailers across China starting January 17. Neither Apple nor China Mobile, have disclosed the prices of the devices so far, and as usual this information will made public close on the heels of the launch.
“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,” said China Mobile chairman Xi Guohua.
Apple chief executive Tim Cook commented on this arrangement “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.”
But the moot question is whether this arrangement between Apple and China Mobile will help Apple to boost its sale of iPhone 5S and 5C in China, where local Android vendors like Gionee,Huawei,ZTE and Lenovo etc, are very aggressive. China market is similar to India market in many ways like its huge size, limitations of its people to buy expensive and premium devices and resurgence of local players. If in India, Micromax,Karbonn,Xolo,Lava,Spice, and of late Chinese giants like Lenovo,Gionee and Huawei are spreading its wings, China market is dominated by its own companies, which have answers for budget to high-end Android smartphones for its denizens.
Traditionally, Apple devices have been very popular in China, but in the changed scenario, when Android players have become very active, it will be tough job for China Mobile to lure Chinese to buy iPhones 5S and 5C. It is premature to comment how this arrangement will develop in the coming months, but industry watchers will have intereting time ahead to focus their eyes on China. However, in our opinion, this association may not bring desired results, but still Apple will be able to push lot of boxes in the huge market of China.
