China Mobile has entered into an agreement with Apple to sell iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c to its large customer base beginning 17 January 2014.
The deal with China Mobile is expected to boost Apple’s revenue stream and help the iPhone maker take on its rival Samsung, which is the largest seller of smartphones in China.
The financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.
China Mobile Chairman Xi Guohua said he was aware that most of their company’s customers were waiting for combination of iPhone on China Mobile’s network.
Apple CEO Tim Cook said this presents their company an opportunity to bring iPhone to the customers of the world’s largest network.
"iPhone customers in China are an enthusiastic and rapidly growing group, and we can’t think of a better way to welcome in the Chinese New Year than getting an iPhone into the hands of every China Mobile customer who wants one," said Cook.
China Mobile’s will unveil its 4G services in 16 Chinese cities by the end of 2013, and by the end of 2014 China Mobile is planning on completing the rollout of over 500,000 4G base stations, which will see more than 340 cities in the country having 4G service.
Until now, 45 million iPhone users on China Mobile’s network have been only able to access 2G wireless speeds as they were not compatible with its proprietary 3G technology.
