Apple-China Mobile deal yet to go ahead, despite approval
苹果中国移动合作暂无进展

Apple’s new iPhone 5S and 5C have officially launched in China. But while the 5S has won praise, many are less impressed by the supposedly "affordable" 5C. While a distribution deal between Apple and the world’s biggest carrier, China Mobile, is still yet to be sealed.

It’s been a year since Apple launched the iPhone 5. Now, there are two new models. But as of Thursday, there were no crowds queuing up to buy them, at Apple’s flagship store in Beijing.

The 5S has up to twice the CPU performance of its predecessor... and there’s a discount version, the 5C. But both can only be ordered online. So far, it’s the high-tech 5S that’s proving popular.

“I prefer the new 5S because it’s more advanced technologically. For example, the new finger print system is creative and the security is improved. The price of the 5S is acceptable.”

But the so-called "low-end" 5C isn’t faring as well.

In a survey on Sina.com, nearly 90 percent of respondents said it’s not affordable. Despite being an attempt to win back Chinese customers from cheaper rivals like Samsung and Xiaomi, the 5C still weighs in at nearly 12 times the price of Lenovo’s cheapest handset.

And it’s more expensive in China than in the US, where networks offer deep discounts on handsets.

For months, Apple has been battling bad press in China - from perceived double standards in its warranty policy, to a class copyright action against it by 10 Chinese writers. What could boost the American brand’s popularity in China is a possible distribution deal between Apple and China Mobile - a carrier with one billion Chinese phone users. But there’s still no word yet from either company on whether the deal is done.

According to Sina Tech, China Mobile already has 42 million iPhone users, exceeding the combined sales of AT&T and Verizon in the US. Analysts say a deal between Apple and China Mobile could sell a further 35 million iPhones.

Paul Bischoff, Editor, Tech in Asia, said, “Apple takes up about a third of the Smartphone market in China. Before, Apple users didn’t go to China Mobile, because China Mobile didn’t support the same type of 3G that Apple mobiles use. But the next generation of iPhones will support China Mobile’s own 4G brand.”

But while Chinese regulators have approved the deal between the world’s biggest IT company by market value and the world’s biggest carrier, it’s still unclear if it will go through.