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Report: Apple in Talks to Bring iPhone to China Mobile

During his second trip to China in 10 months, Apple CEO Tim Cook met with China Mobile's chairman to reportedly discuss a future together.

By Stephanie Mlot
January 10, 2013
Tim Cook visits Industry and Information Technology Minister Miao Wei

Apple CEO Tim Cook met with China Mobile's chairman on Thursday to discuss a future together, raising the possibility that the carrier could soon begin offering the iPhone.

Cook and Xi Guohua today discussed "matters of cooperation," a China Mobile spokesman told Reuters, helping to confirm expectations that the two tech giants will work together.

China Mobile did not immediately respond to PCMag's request for comment, and did not release any further details to Reuters due to a confidentiality agreement.

Apple already has deals with China Unicom and China Telecom — the country's second and third largest mobile carriers, but has not yet shaken hands with China Mobile, the world's largest mobile carrier by subscribers. A partnership with the Asian service provider would be a massive win for Cupertino, which could get the push it needs to regain its title as king of the mobile market.

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In a translated interview with China's Sina Technology News, Cook remained positive about his company's future in China, saying that the country has always been an important market, and even boasting that "in the near future, China will become Apple's largest market."

Apple's smartphone is already prolific in China, selling more than 2 million iPhone 5 units in the first two days of its launch in the country, running on China Unicom and China Telecom services.

Meanwhile, and without much fanfare, Cook has reportedly confirmed that a cellular data version of the iPad mini will be shipped to China later this month.

According to The Next Web, Apple last month received domestic network licenses for its cellular-based tablets — a requirement before the devices can go on sale in the mainland. The Wi-Fi only version landed in China in early December, a week before the iPhone 5 hit overseas shelves.

Cook has been traipsing around Asia this week on his second trip to China in 10 months, meeting on Tuesday with China's Industry and Information Technology Minister Miao Wei (pictured above) to discuss the development of China's IT industry and Apple's business in the country. Rumors of the CEO's efforts to ink a deal with China Mobile immediately sprang up, with some saying the partnership could land another 100 million or more potential subscribers for Cupertino.

Apple has made great strides in China recently, growing 25 percent in the Asia-Pacific region in the third quarter, according to a July earnings call. Even before launching the iPhone 5 in the area, China made up two-thirds of Cupertino's regional revenue.

For more from Stephanie, follow her on Twitter @smlotPCMag.

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About Stephanie Mlot

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Stephanie Mlot

B.A. in Journalism & Public Relations with minor in Communications Media from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP)

Reporter at The Frederick News-Post (2008-2012)

Reporter for PCMag and Geek.com (RIP) (2012-present)

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