Apple may soon be able to overcome the hurdles its iPhone 6 launch in China is facing. Reportedly, the smartphone is "in the final stages of review for approval" from the Chinese government.
The Chinese government will reveal the results shortly. Per Reuters, China's chief of MIIT Miao Wei revealed the information to China-based portal Tencent on Tuesday, Sept. 23, in an exclusive interview.
"The iPhone 6 has entered the final stage of the approval process, now it's just a matter of time," said Wei to Tencent per Reuters. "Netizens, please wait patiently."
Wei, however, did not disclose the exact timeframe and only committed to a "very soon."
With the Chinese government introducing regulatory approval limitations on new products, the fate of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus releases in China remains shrouded in mystery. The resulting delay in Apple getting the necessary approval has prompted speculation that the iPhone has not cleared approval from MIIT. Some reports have suggested that the device's launch may be delayed to 2015 as a result.
A report from Chinese news agency Xinhua citing the MIIT revealed that the iPhone 6 had attained two out of the three licenses the device needed for China. However, the smartphone was still awaiting a major license pertaining to network access before it could be sold by Apple in China.
The latest iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 plus models launched in several parts of the world (including the U.S.) on Friday, Sept. 19. However, the smartphones remain notably absent from the reach of Chinese consumers. This, however, is not a deterrent for iFans who are hankering for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus as smugglers have devised ingenious ways of bringing the smartphones to Chinese shores.
The smugglers are allegedly using Twinkie wrappers and substituting the sponge cake with iPhone 6 Plus and iPhone 6 units instead. Another method of illegally shipping the iPhones into China comprises placing the devices into toothpaste boxes and coffee tins.
Presently, the much-desired iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are selling for $1900 and $3,250 on the black market in China. Considering, the Apple phones are creating quite a stir in the country prior to its official launch (remember the guy who put up an advert to rent his girlfriend to raise money for the iPhone), it will be interesting to see if the iPhone 6 Plus and iPhone 6 can better the 10 million unit sales figure for the launch weekend when the smartphones finally release in China.
