China Unicom May Be Getting Its Own Appstore??
More news on China Unicom’s attempt to build its own App Store designed to run in conjunction with Apple’s App Store for the iPhone.
A senior executive at a subsidiary of Apple’s current Chinese carrier confirmed these plans, saying that Shanghai Unicom is testing “Wan Jia Ying” (Player Camp) an online platform on which iPhone users can exchange information and share content.
Testing of the service began in August, but the plan doesn’t include making this China Unicom’s primary application platform. It currently offers over 270 apps, including both free and paid versions.
Reports in advance of the iPhone launch in China claimed one sticking point in putting distribution deals in place with carriers there was the desire of local incumbents to promote their own App Store, rather than ceding the market to Apple.
Last week it was reported that after a slow start, iPhone sales have reached 100,000 units in China.
The iPhone 3GS seems to be mid-cycle, with reports suggesting manufacturing deals for the next-generation of iPhone are already in place.
Via 9to5mac.com
Tags: 3gs, App, China, china unicom, iphone, Jia Ying, Shanghai, Unicom