Despite a slow start, Apple’s smartphone presence in China could grow to 5 million iPhone sales per year — and could even double that if the company were to offer a lower cost prepaid model.

Analyst Katy Huberty with Morgan Stanley issued a note to investors Friday stating that she is bullish on the prospect of improved future iPhone sales in China. This week, Apple executive revealed that more than 200,000 iPhones have been activated since the handset launched on carrier China Unicom last fall.

Huberty noted that the current install base of unlocked iPhones in China is about 2 million, according to a new study conducted by Morgan Stanley. That is already similar to the largest European and Asian countries. Read more…

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.

Read more…

As you guys may know apple and china have been in negotiations for the past year. An agreemant was finally reached and the iphone was to be sold in China this last weekend. Unfortunately only 11 iPhones were sold, ten on one day and 1 the next. It is said that the official iPhone didn’t sell because of the black market iphones which come unlocked and have wifi enabled are a better deal. I myself believe the iPhone’s in China are way overpriced as an iPhone under contract with China Unicom for two years will run you at about ¥20,000 (3,000 USD). That is more than what an average Chinese worker makes in a year..

The iPhone arrives in China today amid speculation that a missing feature could seriously hamper sales, according to an Associated Press report.

China Unicom starts selling iPhones Friday night at 2,000 stores reaching across the nation. It hopes to gain an edge against China Mobile, the world’s biggest phone company by subscribers. Read more…

Hong Kong-based China Unicom released details today concerning its August announcement of a three-year deal to sell the iPhone. Sales of the iPhone will begin in October, dovetailing with its October 1st 3G network launch, and will be priced at approximately 5000 Yuan, or around US$730. The iPhone will be sold in both Apple retail stores and through Unicom’s own network of stores, and plans for the iPhone will range from 126 Yuan to 886 Yuan, or about US$18 to US$130. There will also be a handset subsidy, depending on the chosen plan above 126 Yuan, which maxes out at 4253 Yuan, or about US$623.
China Unicom competes heavily with the larger China Telecom, which is believed to be in negotiations to distribute the Palm Pre.

Via tuaw.com