China Unicom posts iPhone 3G images, specs
China Unicom probably didn't post this image of the iPhone 3G just because it liked the graphics.
(Credit: China Unicom)China Unicom did nothing to dispel rumors that it plans to be Apple's iPhone partner in China by posting images and specifications of the iPhone 3G on Tuesday.
The details (in Chinese), spotted by IDG News Service, are perhaps the strongest sign that China's second-largest carrier has won the deal to supply the iPhone to the world's largest mobile phone market. At this point, some may wonder why China Unicom wouldn't just wait for the new iPhone that is almost universally expected to arrive sometime around the middle of this year, but Chinese media reports have suggested that China Unicom and Apple reached a breakthrough in their negotiations just last week, and China Unicom plans to launch a 3G network in May.
Apple and China Mobile, the country's largest carrier, have negotiated off and on for over a year about bringing the iPhone to China but have thus far failed to reach a deal. Part of the problem with the China Mobile talks was that the large carrier reportedly wanted some control over the App Store in China, as well as a version of the iPhone made to work with a homegrown 3G standard used only by China Mobile.
China Unicom has 130 million subscribers before which Apple can push the iPhone, as compared to AT&T's 77 million subscribers.
Tom Krazit writes about the ever-expanding world of Internet search, including Google, Yahoo, online advertising, and portals, as well as the evolution of mobile computing. He has written about traditional PC companies, chip manufacturers, and mobile computers, spending the last three years covering Apple. E-mail Tom. 
- by AdeBarkah March 24, 2009 11:49 PM PDT
- Some observations:
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- by seven7dust March 25, 2009 4:46 AM PDT
- no Wi-fi functionality ?
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- by maldaen March 25, 2009 10:13 PM PDT
- 1) Yep, opens up a lot of opportunity.
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- by maldaen March 26, 2009 1:02 AM PDT
- To clarify again about Wi-Fi in cell phones... while carrier limitations are a big part of it, the only reason to disable Wi-Fi is if the wireless card and firmware do not support WAPI, a wireless standard required for any Wi-Fi device to operate in China. Current discussions in Cupertino with China Unicom brass suggest that this issue is on the table and are hoping to correct it by altering the firmware to include WAPI support if the hardware can enable it. But if they have to lock out Wi-Fi, Apple will do it. They've already been forced to do it in Egypt, so having to do it in China shouldn't be a big deal.
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(4 Comments)1. China Unicom will be the sole WCDMA provider in Chinese, so they have a big advantage in negotiations with Apple (unlike China Mobile.)
2. Notice that same page also shows the Android G1, Sony X1, and two Nokia smartphones (N97 & E71). Will China Unicom really bring in all those phones as well, or is this yet more negotiation ploy vs. Apple?
3. Mobile phones in China are NOT allowed to have Wi-Fi functionality. The iPhone's Wi-Fi functions are not mentioned in that spec page (as far as I can see.) That might mean Apple will release at least a "special" OS or firmware for the Chinese iPhone to disable Wi-Fi, or a different hardware revision altogether to prevent unlocking. I'm sure security analysts around the world will want to take a close look at any Chinese iPhone firmware. ;-)
4. The iPhone spec page DOES mention MMS. As we all know MMS is not available until OS 3.0 scheduled for this summer (June?). BUT, China Unicom plans to rollout WCDMA on May 17th. So will Unicom rollout WCDMA without an iPhone, or with a special OS 2.x with WiFi + MMS added, or will a variant of OS 3.0 make it to the Chinese iPhone in May???
I thought that Apple doesn't yield to carrier demands ?
oh well ! looks like Steve Job's absence is leading to many interesting changes !
2) As China Mobile has opted for a semi-proprietary 3G solution, I wouldn't be shocked if Unicom has signed deals for these other devices, as well. They have a lot of customers, so the more options the better, I'd guess.
3) This Wi-Fi situation needs to be clarified, as it is incorrect that Wi-Fi is not permitted. As far as I can tell, only China Mobile restricts Wi-Fi on the phones it provides. There are no restrictions to Wi-Fi implementation on a cell phone beyond what the carriers themselves specify.
4) New iPhone rollout in China for June, to coincide with the 3.0 software launch. Similar to the new countries at launch of the 3G.