Apple may be close to realising its goal of selling the iPhone in the emerging Chinese market. A report on the State Wireless Inspection Centre website has cleared an Apple handset, apparently an iPhone, to use its assigned frequency range for five years. Frequency approval is one of three government tests the iPhone must pass in order to receive a network access licence.
Apple has also posted a job ad on its website for a Beijing-based role overseeing iPhone training across Asia. The position requires designing training for carrier partners selling the iPhone.
Apple has said it hopes to begin selling the smartphone in China in the next year, and is currently in talks with local carrier China Unicom. However, negotiations between the two companies face several obstacles. One dispute is over whether China Unicom will be allowed to pre-install non-Apple programs and applications on the phone.
Discussions are also stalling over how to split revenue from sales in the iPhone’s App Store, with Apple adamant that consumers should purchase direct from its store. China Unicom is concerned such a move will threaten its web dominance and is now poised to launch its own app store, Mobile Market.
Apple also faces issues over whether the phone will use Wi-Fi. In recent weeks China seems to have lifted a ban on Wi-Fi handsets. However, it now requires them to use a Chinese-developed security protocol called WAPI (WLAN Authentication and Privacy Infrastructure).
StrategyEye's related categories: Regulatory Organisations - Governments, Mobile Phone Devices
StrategyEye's related companies: China Unicom, Apple, Inc.
