Hasta La Gadget!

A couple of months back Apple finally received the regulatory approval it required to put its new iPhones on China Mobile’s homegrown TD-LTE network. With the big regulatory hurdle out of the way, many figured that it was only a matter of time before the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c were launched on the world’s largest mobile carrier. A purported screenshot of China Mobile’s pre-registration page for the new iPhones have been leaked online, adding weight to the recent confirmation from China’s official news agency that iPhones are going to be launched on China Mobile come December 18th.

It was reported last week by China’s official news agency that on December 18th China Mobile will switch on its commercial 4G services under the He brand, and apart from switching on the network, it will finally officially announce the availability of both new iPhones to its over 700 million subscribers. There’s some uncertainty over the legitimacy of this screenshot. Originally received by the folks over at C Technology, it is possible that the screenshot might be the creation of someone with decent Photoshop skills, as the pre-registration page shown in the screenshot contains the old China Mobile logo, which is definitely odd. The carrier hasn’t said when it will officially start accepting pre-orders for the new iPhones.

Screenshot Of Pre-registration Page For New iPhones On China Mobile Surfaces original content from Ubergizmo.

Over the past few months it has consistently been rumored that China Mobile is finally going to launch the iPhone. The world’s largest mobile carrier having more than 700 million subscribers has never officially carried the iPhones, even though its rivals in China have do so for quite some time now. With the launch of its new 4G network, China Mobile will finally offer its subscribers the luxury to purchase an Apple iPhone 5s or iPhone 5c directly from it. The launch takes place on December 18th, the date was initially rumored last week but it has now been confirmed by Xinhua, China’s official state news agency.

Initially, subscribers in Beijing, Guangzhou and Chongqing will be able to use the new 4G service, which will be launched in Shanghai a little later. Given China’s reputation for creating cheap smartphone, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see low-cost 4G smartphones catering to the intense demand. Li Yue, president of China Mobile, believes that 4G phones priced around $160 will be available in the second half of 2014. Xinhua also says that China Mobile is going to finally launch the iPhones on December 18th, ending months of speculation about the launch. Pricing information will be available on the aforementioned date, it is not known at this point in time.

China Mobile 4G And iPhone Launch Confirmed By State News Agency original content from Ubergizmo.

China Mobile is the world’s largest mobile carrier with more than 700 million subscribers, however it has never officially carried the iPhone. This we’ve heard countless rumors that the new iPhones might finally be launched on China Mobile, but so far no announcement has been made. China Mobile is going to unveil a new brand partner on December 18th, and while it hasn’t said who that partner is, rumors have started circulating once again that perhaps that day might finally bring the iPhones on China Mobile.

A China Mobile executive tells The Wall Street Journal that the carrier is ready to start its 4G service, however China has not issued 4G licenses as yet. Apple has already received the required regulatory approval for the iPhones to run on China Mobile’s network, so its now up to the carrier to finally launch these smartphones. It hasn’t been revealed when 4G licenses are going to be issued, however rumor has it that they might be issued by next week, but China hasn’t officially commented on this rumored time frame. Marvin Lo, an analyst at Mizuho Securities in Hong Kong, predicts that as many as 10 percent of China Mobile’s 700 million subscribers might switch over to the iPhones when they’re launched. This would result into 70 million new customers in China for Apple, which would without a doubt benefit from it.

China Mobile iPhone Launch Rumors Circulate Once Again original content from Ubergizmo.

If there haven’t already been many hints of the impending launch of the iPhones on China Mobile, here is another one. Apple has a new position open at its Beijing office who has knowledge and experience of working with China Mobile’s homegrown unique network standard. The person hired in this position will be required to “support and drive the carrier approval of mobile phones.” Now the company won’t be doing that if it didn’t have any plans of bringing its smartphones over to the world’s largest mobile carrier, which touts more than 700 million subscribers. Only recently Apple received the network access license required to put its new iPhones on China Mobile’s network, so its probably just a matter of time before an official announcement of the partnership is made.

China Mobile has never offered the iPhone, ever. It has had a number of discussions with Apple and it is believed that a favorable arrangement has now been hashed out. Purported promotional material depicting iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c available on China Mobile has leaked, while only recently we saw a leaked screenshot of an iPhone 5s working on China Mobile’s unique TD-SCDMA and TD-LTE standards which aren’t used by any other carriers. China Mobile said a few months back that it is keen on selling the iPhone, though several technical and commercial issued remains. Hopefully they’ll be cleared up soon so that current and prospective China Mobile customers can finally get their hands on the new iPhones, officially.

Apple Looking For Someone With Knowledge Of China Mobile’s Unique Network original content from Ubergizmo.

China Mobile has already said that it is keen on selling the iPhone, adding that several issues were getting in the way. It appears as though all of the issues might soon be resolved, and Apple’s new smartphones might finally become available from the world’s largest mobile carrier that touts more than 700 million subscribers. An alleged China Mobile promotional poster for the new iPhones has leaked online, promising support for 3G/4G and blazing fast speeds of up to 100 megabits per second.

Rumor has it that China Mobile will put the new iPhones to the test on its TD-LTE network this month, they’re expected to enter beta mode in October. The carrier is finally expected to market both iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c to customers in November. China Mobile’s 4G TD-LTE network is ready to be fired up, but it is yet to receive the required permission from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The Ministry has previously said that permissions will be granted by the end of this year, though rumors indicate that this might happen in or around mid-October. Once the network is fired up, it is believed that then it would only be a matter of time before both new iPhones are finally launched on China Mobile. [Image via Unwiredview]

China Mobile iPhone 5s And iPhone 5c Promotional Poster Allegedly Leaked original content from Ubergizmo.