Hasta La Gadget!

Considering iPhones are made in China, and they’re already being counterfeited there, you would think that an authentic Apple iPhone would have been available in the country long ago. But it appears carrier China Unicom and Apple are just finally sealing the deal to begin selling iPhones in September.

The carrier has paid Apple 10 billion yuan ($1.46 billion) for 5 million iPhones, according to International Business Times. An 8GB model of the iPhone is estimated to sell for 2,400 yuan ($350), and a 16GB may be sold at 4,800 yuan ($700), said Yu Zaonan, general manager of the customer development department of China Unicom, in an interview with IBT. The report says China’s iPhones would work with the WCDMA-standard for 3G connectivity.

The report does not clarify whether Unicom would be selling the new iPhone 3GS, or if these are the previous 3G models. However, it’s likely the 8GB model is an iPhone 3G, since there is no 8GB iPhone 3GS.

Shortly after IBT published its report, China Unicom attempted to refute it by claiming IBT’s sources never commented on the iPhone. However, IBT said it had voice records of the interviews. Our interpretation: The company accidentally broke the news, which was supposed to be Apple’s job. Whoops!

See Also:

• NYT Investigates Suicide Over Missing iPhone
• China Mobile Still Open to iPhone Deal
• Report: Missing iPhone Prototype Pressured Chinese Worker to …
• China Mobile to Launch iPhone Without 3G, Wi-Fi
• China Mobile and Apple Call Off iPhone Negotiations
• Chinese iPhone Knockoffs Described With Hilarious Engrish
• Factory: 'iPhone Girl' Is For Real, Not Fired

Photo: Stuck in Customs/Flickr

Alright, you know how Dell’s seemingly been going through hell and high water for years now to try to bring a smartphone or two to market? China’s been a special focus of this clandestine effort, and we’ve got some new information here — possibly. Chinese site NetEase is reporting on an email supposedly received by developers on China Mobile’s Mobile Market mailing list, discussing a handful of S60, WinMo, and Android-based Open Mobile System (OMS) devices that the carrier would really love devs to concentrate on as Mobile Market goes live and tries to gain some footing. Most of the content is mundane, but there’s a section for an OMS device called the Dell “mini 3i,” a name that would certainly fall right in line with Dell’s branding — but there are a couple issues here. First, the phone is said to operate on China Mobile’s legacy GSM network, not the homegrown TD-SCDMA 3G tech that the carrier is working diligently to deploy right now; it seems illogical at best for Dell to get into the game with a phone that’s immediately walloped by Lenovo with its 3G-capable O1 as the first volley of OMS phones comes to market over the coming weeks. Secondly there’s absolutely zero discussion about the supposed email on OMS’ official forums, which seems odd if the email’s real. To its credit, the claimed 640 x 360 — that’s a perfect 16:9, if you can’t be bothered to get out your graphing calculator — sounds about right to match the rumored shot we’ve seen floating around lately, but we’re still staying guarded on this one until we hear something official from the folks in Austin or Hong Kong.

[Via Cloned In China]

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Dell’s China-bound smartphone possibly called ‘mini 3i,’ but questions abound originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 Aug 2009 23:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We haven’t heard a peep about this from anywhere else, but the inimitable Michael Arrington at TechCrunch says Dell’s gearing up to launch that long-rumored smartphone in China “within days.” Don’t get too excited, though: even Mike says the evidence is “thin,” and we doubt anything Dell eventually brings out in China will have much bearing on the rest of the world, since the Chinese government requires quite a bit of product customization for the domestic market. Still, we’ll see what happens — and if Dell manages to produce something a little more interesting than its previous efforts.

[Via TrustedReviews]

Filed under: Cellphones

Dell smartphone to launch in China this week? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ah, if it isn’t RAmos again. The only Chinese PMP maker that cranks out wares that aren’t chock full of KIRF. The outfit’s latest endeavor is the T6 icon, a sleek, simplistic media player that isn’t apt to head stateside anytime soon. Packing a 4.3-inch LCD (800 x 480 resolution) and a frame that’s just ten millimeters thick, the HD-capable device also boasts an HDMI output and nary a button on the front face. ‘Course, the assortment of rockers around the edges ensures that your volume level and track selection isn’t solely controlled by a touchscreen, but we definitely appreciate the clean look.

Filed under: Handhelds, Portable Audio, Portable Video

RAmos T6 PMP don’t need no buttons originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 Aug 2009 08:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC has been on a global Android-pimping mission with its Hero device, and it looks like Chinese subsidiary Dopod gets the honor of announcing three new handsets for the Middle Kingdom. Unlike others, the Hero retains its WiFi capabilities by playing nice with China’s custom WLAN security protocol and is expected in late August on China Unicom for 5,600 Yuan ($820) along with the few-frills Click for 3,400 Yuan ($500). The carrier has opted to strip Google Maps from the Hero (though it’s still downloadable), and to soften the blow it will likely offer a snazzy red version of the phone. China Mobile will have to settle for an as-yet unspecified TD-SCDMA handset and the already announced Magic, both of which will likely be sporting the OMS flavor of Android. We’re not sure we’d classify the Hero’s price tag as reasonable — but really, can you put a dollar figure on being the first big-name Android release in the world’s largest wireless market?

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

HTC Hero and Click coming to China under Dopod brand originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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