China Mobile isn’t really known for selling iPhones in China, but it is the largest carrier in China and the numbers are huge. China Unicom currently sells iPhone in China and Apple has confirmed that it is investing in China heavily. So when the chairman of China’s largest cellular carrier comes out to say that Apple has shown interest in LTE and would initiate development at an early date, we sure take notice. Apple already went CDMA with a Verizon iPhone and it sure comes with promises of a LTE phone for Verizon sometime in future.
Chine Unicom is set to launch its LTE network in 2011 itself and the iPhone 5 is still a few months away. We wonder of the iPhone 5 in June/July would come in a LTE enabled version as well? Apple’s competitors already have an edge with several LTE devices being announced at CES 2011.
Chine Mobile Chairman said that Mr Jobs him self expressed interest in a LTE iPhone for China. And he mentioned that would be soon. Chairmans / CXO’s of top companies can slip once in a while and this seems to be a case where we can clearly see Apple wanting to make the most of Chinese growth. For Apple China is a big market and it makes sense to partner with China Mobile.