Is the iPhone 4S going to be released soon in China? We realize we’ve been torturing you with this for weeks now, but today there’s yet another indication things are pretty close to complete, as China Unicom’s sales department GM Yu Yingtao told Sina Tech:
All we need is for MIIT to issue the network permit for the iPhone 4S and we’ll start selling it, it doesn’t depend on us […] we’ve already done all of our preparations, we’re just waiting on the permit.
That’s good news because previous reports — while not officially confirmed — do indicate that MIIT has received the device and indeed has already tested it. That means, in essence, that the permit might well come through at any time in the next couple weeks.
Now, despite what Unicom’s rep says, don’t expect to see the phone on shelves the same day MIIT issues the permit. Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) takes launches pretty seriously, and while I expect we’ll see the iPhone 4S on the market quite soon, I also expect they’ll take at least a couple days to market and build the hype into the frenzy they’re capable of creating.
Will China explode over this one? There are a bunch of reasons why Chinese consumers shouldn’t care, but we suspect there will be gigantic lines of scalpers eager fans on launch day anyway. When will that day be? No one knows for sure, but at this point, it seems like the smart money might be on sometime in December.
[Via Sina Tech]
Stay updated on the go with our mobile app.
Get latest insights with smoother, more personalized experience through TIA mobile app.
