iPhone Largely Ignored in China

Techtree News Staff, Nov 04, 2009 1419 hrs IST

Why did the device fail to have an impact on the Chinese market?

Elsewhere in the world, while people might flock whenever a new version of the Jesus phone is released, the Chinese seems to have largely ignored the device.

Following the much-discussed launch of the iPhone on China's second largest mobile network, China Unicom, last week, only 5000 have been sold. This, in the country boasting of the world's largest mobile subscriber base, is nothing short of an embarrassment for Apple who has always known to cite the sales of the iPhones in millions right from the first week of its release in other parts of the world.

While questions are being raised as to why the iPhone has failed to make any impact in the Chinese market, many observers have made it clear that the reasons behind this range from the prohibitive pricing of the device to the crippling of various features on the device might have forced users to ignore the device for better equipped me-too products. This is apart from the grey market scene, which thrives in China and is being termed a culprit by consultant iSuppli. China is also known for pretty well disguised iPhone clones that actually boast of more features than what the much more expensive iPhone can.

Nevertheless, it has been largely a similar trend in India as well. In both markets, consumers are more price conscious and Apple's over the top pricing of the iPhone ensures lesser uptake of iPhones.

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USER COMMENTS

@Tiony Basil, I sense an inferiority complex on your behalf. If you are an Indian, it is only fitting you would badmouth China seeing as your over populated country of a hellhole is nothing more than a slump, jealousy is such an ugly thing. If you are an American or westerner, shame on you for illegally occupying and invading iraq and Afghanistan where you and your cronies are the most despised people on this earth. Think before you speak, ignorant idiot.

by Brad, London, on Nov 04, 2009 05:15 PM, Report abuse Reply

dude i can see that you have a frustrated mind.i think what i said about china is true...just check out Wikipedia....I agree with you on a lot of issues,but you must first understand why all these are happening..You need to understand human psychology and our history to explain all these..so instead of complaining like a baby,start doing your homework..USA is doing it for money and superiority...simple...there is nothing you and me can do...lol

by Tony Basil, Cochin, on Nov 04, 2009 06:02 PM, Report abuse

afterall why do chinese need iphone?most of the stuff are restricted in china...internet is censored,media is censored and right to anything is restricted,even the right to reproduce...lol...so they dont have much to do there...so why bother buying it?lol

by Tony Basil, Cochin, on Nov 04, 2009 04:44 PM, Report abuse Reply

chinese people dont like mobile phones bearing imei number.

by naveenchaudhary, meerut, on Nov 04, 2009 04:25 PM, Report abuse Reply

i forget to write "lol" at the end.

by naveenchaudhary, meerut, on Nov 04, 2009 04:26 PM, Report abuse

The official China Unicom-partnered iPhone didn't have much of an impact because buyers prefer to buy cracked versions of the product under the counter at any store in Beijing and Shanghai. Retailers in Hong Kong are also reporting huge order backlogs from the mainland.

by Ping Guo, Beijing, on Nov 04, 2009 03:22 PM, Report abuse Reply