iPhone 5 Receives Final Regulatory Certification in China

The Wall Street Journal reports that the iPhone 5 has received its final certification from Chinese regulators, opening the door to a launch on Apple's carrier partners China Unicom and China Telecom.

Vendors in China often start selling new handsets within weeks of approval by China’s Telecommunication Equipment Certification Center. [...]

The regulator said in two posts on its website that it had approved licenses for an iPhone supported by China Telecom and one supported by China Unicom.

China Telecom chairman Wang Xiaochu had previously stated that the iPhone 5 would be launching on the carrier by early December, and the carrier has reportedly started taking pre-orders in recent days.

iphone 5 china top
Apple has been placing a strong focus on the Chinese market, which now accounts for 15% of the company's revenue and and saw revenues rise 78% to $23.8 billion in fiscal 2012.

Still, Apple's product launches in China have typically lagged behind those in the company's other major markets, leading to a booming gray market for devices brought in from Hong Kong and elsewhere while also leaving the company more vulnerable to competitors. But with Apple's goal of bringing the iPhone 5 to at least 100 countries before the end of 2012, the company is clearly working hard on compressing its worldwide rollout timetables.

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Top Rated Comments

landscapeman Avatar
165 months ago
Pollute Air, Water and Food. But it takes months for Regulators to allow a Phone in a unRegulated Country.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
wikus Avatar
165 months ago
Made in China, can't sell in China.

Interesting.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JaySoul Avatar
165 months ago
Stock price increase ahoy.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
frayne182 Avatar
165 months ago
Dominates might not be the right word, yes they sell more because they are cheaper than the iPhone and most Chinese aren't that wealthy.

They dominate. Recent reports show as much as 90% of the cell phone market is Android.

That is dominating.

Not trying to be a douche, but the facts speak for themselves.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iMikeT Avatar
165 months ago
Time for a rise in AAPL.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
frayne182 Avatar
165 months ago
I've no problem of us disagree, however when you called me a name on your earlier post, that's a problem.

No I didn't?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)