Apple has received one out of the two regulatory licenses it needs to sell the iPhone 6 in China, reports state-run news agency Xinhua (via Reuters). The handset is currently being reviewed by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), which also examined the the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c before its launch in China last year. According to the news agency, Apple now needs a critical network access license before it can begin selling the device.

iphone6-china
The news follows a report yesterday which stated that the launch of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in China may be pushed back to 2015 due to the need for regulatory licenses. Currently, it is unclear as to whether Apple will secure the licenses in time for a late 2014 launch, although talks are said to be ongoing. A delayed launch of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in China would hinder Apple's presence in the country, which has been expanding rapidly throughout the past few years.

Apple began iPhone sales on China Mobile last year, which is the country's biggest wireless service provider and the last major carrier in the region to partner with the company. Apple CEO Tim Cook stated in January that he was "incredibly optimistic" about partnering with the carrier, stating that it would allow the company to sell the iPhone in 3,000 more locations and advertise to its over 760 million customers.

Tag: Reuters
Related Forum: iPhone

Top Rated Comments

DoubleU Avatar
141 months ago
That's one palm greased and one more to go.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Brandon263 Avatar
141 months ago
Probably has something to do with the changes to iMessage and Mail that make it difficult for governments to access user information.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Michaelgtrusa Avatar
141 months ago
What else does china want? steal more tech from us and then screw us over a little more? Maybe Apple should donate more money while Americans suffer.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Stephroll Avatar
141 months ago
Goophone and eBay resellers rejoice
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rdlink Avatar
141 months ago
In the "Australian line" pictures, the people in line are all asians. lol Australia doesn't have white people?

Not saying there's no reselling going on here, but Australia does have a pretty significant Asian population.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cocky jeremy Avatar
141 months ago
Well this isn't good for the 6+ back orders.

Sure it is. It means China won't be grabbing any of our phones for a while. :D
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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