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China Unicom Purchases 5 Million iPhones to Go on Sale Next Month?

International Business Times covers reports from Chinese-language media claiming that wireless carrier China Unicom has purchased 5 million China-specific iPhones from Apple and will begin selling them next month.

China Unicom, the potential exclusive distributor of iPhones in China, has poured 10 billion yuan ($1.46 billion) to buy 5 million units from Apple, ready to sell the first batch in September, local media reported on Wednesday.

China Unicom had already paid Apple 10 billion yuan ($1.46 billion) for 5 million WCDMA standard iPhones with unit price of 2,000 yuan ($293), CBN news said, citing a well-informed source.

The report also notes that Apple has given up its traditional business model of sharing in "profit dividends" from its distributors, apparently referring to a lack of subsidies from the carrier that in other countries boost Apple's sales price for entry-level iPhone models by several hundred dollars.

Apple made compromises in the China market because of its great demand and intense competition, but Apple can still make profits from each unit from 1,000 yuan and 1,100 yuan as China Unicom offers a good price for each unit.

The iPhone will reportedly be offered to customers at about 2,400 yuan ($351) for the 8 GB model, with the 16 GB model possibly priced at 4,800 yuan ($702).

The news comes on the heels of a reported trip to China by Apple vice president of iPod and iPhone Product Marketing Greg Joswiak and other executives last week in order to finalize details with China Unicom.

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33 months ago
Let them eat cake.
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33 months ago
Nice instant marketshare boost and income boost for Apple there.
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33 months ago
Stock up $2.20 today already, the market has already priced it! :D
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33 months ago

Stock up $2.20 today already, the market has already priced it! :D


Doesn't take them long does it?
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33 months ago

Stock up $2.20 today already, the market has already priced it! :D


Umm...no. Barclay's upped its target price - that's where the bump is coming from.
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33 months ago
Holy s***. In China, they know how to place an order :eek:
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33 months ago
Does anyone know how the iPhone has faired in Japan? I have my doubts that the iPhone will do that well in China.

P-Worm
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33 months ago
Generally, 4th quarter is everybody's best. Gotta love the holidays -- I know I do as my business is directly related to the shopping season.

Apple typically has a record breaking 4th quarter EVERY year. They stack the deck in their favor with new laptop updates and redesigns for their iPod lineup...

But this year, while I believe they'll have new laptops and ipods... they've got Snow Leopard coming out at a ridiculous price that NO ONE will pass up. And being that the talk is all of the POWER of MULTI-CORE with SL, I wouldn't doubt if we see something new in the iMac/Pro lines (I'm hoping Pro because I need a new system bad)...

and now 5M iPhones to sell to China -- wow -- we are going to see a quarter from Apple like no other.
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33 months ago
How long would it take to make that many? Can they make 100,000 a day? It still would take 50 days just to build them, and thats not counting the rest of the world demand. :apple:
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33 months ago

How long would it take to make that many? Can they make 100,000 a day? It still would take 50 days just to build them, and thats not counting the rest of the world demand. :apple:


Well according to earlier rumors production had started a few weeks back.
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