The long-awaited Apple and China Mobile deal is now official and Chinese consumers will be able to grab the latest iPhones from the country's biggest wireless carrier from mid-January 2014.
Apple has announced it has signed a multi-year agreement with China Mobile to bring its iPhones to China. The latest iPhone 5s and the budget iPhone 5c, launched in September this year, will be available from Apple retail stores and China Mobile's retail stores across mainland China from Friday, January 17, 2014.
"Apple has enormous respect for China Mobile and we are excited to begin working together. 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," said Tim Cook, Apple CEO. "iPhone customers in China are an enthusiastic and rapidly growing group, and we can't think of a better way to welcome in the Chinese New Year than getting an iPhone into the hands of every China Mobile customer who wants one."
The iPhone 5s is the most popular smartphone yet and a deal with China Mobile will be beneficial to both the parties. China Mobile is the biggest wireless carrier in the entire world with a subscriber base of over 760 million and the deal could add anything between 15-20 million iPhone subscribers in 2014. For Apple, the deal could mean an additional $10 to its annual revenue.
"Apple's iPhone is very much loved by millions of customers around the world. 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. We are delighted that iPhone on China Mobile will support our 4G/TD-LTE and 3G/TD-SCDMA networks, providing customers with high-speed mobile service," said China Mobile Chairman Xi Guohua.
China Mobile will start pre-registration of the new iPhones via its official website (www.10086.cn) and also from its customer service hotline "10086" beginning on Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2013.
Shares of Apple were up 3.22 percent at $566.70 on the Nasdaq during pre-market hours on Monday.
