Foxconn readying Wi-Fi version of iPhone for China Unicom?
updated 02:20 pm EST, Thu January 28, 2010
Next-gen device said to support WAPI standard
Foxconn is allegedly readying a WAPI-based iPhone that will be headed to China Unicom, according to the Chinese site PCPOP. WAPI is a local wireless standard that is compatible with Wi-Fi, unlike the current iPhone version which omits the Wi-Fi functionality due to government regulations.
The lack of Wi-Fi has been considered a significant factor in the modest distribution numbers following the iPhone launch in China. China Unicom reportedly sold just 300,000 iPhones by the end of 2009, with just 5,000 handsets sold during the launch weekend.
Instead of buying the official Chinese version of the iPhone, which costs at least $1,025, many customers instead purchased a standard version imported from another country. Pricing and launch information for the WAPI iPhone remains unknown. [via Cloned In China]
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 2008
I hope lack of WiFi is what's holding sales
back in China. Because if Apple is adding WiFi, it's just going to make the price that much higher and that will still give potential customers a reason not to buy it. It may be early yet but it still appears that Apple and the iPhone is not going to fair very well in the nation of China or any country where salaries are low. Android is definitely going to offer a much lower price point and that's what the Chinese buyer likely wants considering all the cheaper knockoff items they buy.