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IN BRIEF: China Gets iPads Just Five Months After U.S. Launch

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Maybe Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) finally learned the lesson that the longer it takes to launch highly desired products in China, the more likely it is that the gray-market will dampen the legitimate product release. Case in point. The company released its first iPhone in China in October 2009, close to 2.5 years after it introduced it in the U.S. and most other foreign markets. By the time Apple worked out its plans for bringing the iPhone to China, many mobile users had either purchased ones from the gray-market or had opted for alternative devices powered by Google Inc.’s (NASDAQ: GOOG) Android OS. As we reported, when it finally arrived, the Chinese iPhone launch was considered a pretty big “flop”.

Now fast forward a year and 10 days ago Apple introduced its much heralded iPad tablet device in China…only five months after it was launched in the U.S. Official sales numbers have yet to be reported but according to a report by WSJ.com, on the day of the launch, there were long lines and tremendous retail excitement greeting the iPad.

Here’s a quick overview of the new iPads being offered in China:

  • The new iPads are Wifi devices only without any 3G service available. Ironically, the opposition to any Wifi devices was a major sticking point in the negotiations to bring the iPhone to China.
  • The wifi iPads are being sold for RMB3,988 (US$590) for a 16GB model and RMB5,588 (US$826) for a 64GB model.
  • Devices sold in Apple’s two large Chinese stores, in Beijing and Shanghai, were limited to two per person.
  • Apple limited each customer to two iPads.
  • The company has declined to announce when and with whom the company will release a 3G version of the iPad.

“I see the iPad as a major win for Apple in China. There’s not much competition in the market” and consumers say “they can’t wait for it.” Apple launched the iPad in China “fairly quickly after launching it globally. It’s not like people have had years to go and jailbreak them.”

Shaun Rein, Managing Director, China Market Research Group (via WSJ.com)

So it is clear that Apple is finally taking the Chinese market — and all of Asia for that matter — as a serious source of growth. Hopefully it has learned that being late to the party in a country with rampant piracy and ready-to-clone manufacturing resources does not give it any time to waste. Of course it is also very likely that all of the negotiations and hair pulling required to get the iPhone into the heavily regulated and competitive Chinese market has helped smooth the way for the introduction of all future Apple devices.

Apple began selling its iPhone 4.0 in China this past Saturday, only 3 months after it launched in the U.S. and only 1  month after the release of the iPhone 3GS in China. China Unicom Limited ((ADR) NYSE: CHU | HKG: 0762) is the current mobile carrier for all Apple devices although it does not have an exclusive contract.

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