China Telecom Gearing Up for iPhone 5 Launch with Massive $234 Million Marketing Push

china telecom
China Telecom is reportedly gearing up for the launch of the iPhone 5, training staff members and even beginning advertising as it prepares to begin taking orders as soon as the end of this month.

China Telecom has instructed some of its provincial branches to begin preparations for the sales of the iPhone 5, including conducting staff training, and the operator will accept orders for the phone at the earliest at end September, reports Southern Metropolis Daily, citing a company insider.

According to the report, a LED screen at the Changan Road branch of China Telecom had started advertising the forthcoming debut of the iPhone 5.

The carrier is expecting to begin pre-sales of the iPhone 5 later this month, with official sales beginning next month. China Telecom is also said to be dedicating a massive 1.5 billion yuan ($234.5 million) to marketing for the device under an initiative known as the "Dragon Plan".

China is a booming market for Apple, but Apple has so far partnered only with China Unicom as an official carrier for the iPhone. China's other two major carriers, China Mobile and China Telecom, have been pushing hard for the iPhone, and it now appears that at least China Telecom is lined up to begin offering the device with the launch of the iPhone 5.

Related Forum: iPhone

Top Rated Comments

newyorksole Avatar
150 months ago
Apple seems to really be trying to keep the iPhone 5 a secret - they seem to be working extra hard to do so.

that's why I believe there hasss to be a major upgrade. the same iPhone 4 look with a better processor, camera and battery? nah.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jesses Avatar
150 months ago
Can't wait to upgrade from my "free" samsung phone of 2 years!
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
soco Avatar
150 months ago
I wonder how it would work if a company like Verizon just didn't do marketing for it. Just put up some signs in the stores that it's in stock and let people flow in.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ohiobam Avatar
150 months ago
Ready

Just like everyone else...I want to know when it is coming. My wife and I are still on the super-slow 3g and can't wait for whatever phone comes out with whatever features!
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
alexexexex Avatar
150 months ago
aggressive marketing is one major reason why iProducts are so successful.
Partly, although i think the word-of-mouth effect for the growth of sales of all apple products shouldn't be discounted. Letting people play with your iPhone/iPad and enthusing how much you're enjoying it has a far greater effect than ads i think.

I think if it was terrible then bad word-of-mouth could kill it just as fast.

I got a G5 iMac 6 or 7 years ago and have had all 4 iPhones.

Now my close family have 4 iMacs 6 iphones 2 ipod touches 4 ipads 5 macbook pros a macbook air and 2 appletvs. None of that due to marketing all due to seeing how great the products are first hand.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
applefan289 Avatar
150 months ago
Apple seems to really be trying to keep the iPhone 5 a secret - they seem to be working extra hard to do so.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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