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iPhone 4 launches in China to huge crowds

updated 09:30 am EDT, Sat September 25, 2010

 

1000 customers queue at new Beijing store


Apple has enjoyed a huge surge of interest in its iPhone 4 in China. At least one thousand customers lined up at the new Beijing store, with some up to two days before the official launch. They joined 50,000 customers who have already pre-ordered the handset, and does not include the scores who have already obtained one through the booming black market trade in iPhone 4's leading up to the local launch.

Last year's launch of the iPhone 3GS was greeted with less interest, partially because Apple was forced to hobble the device by removing its Wi-Fi capabilities at the behest of the Chinese government. The greater public interest in this year's launch could also stem from the sharper pricing of the new model. Compared to the pricing of $1033 in 2009 for a contract-free 32GB iPhone 3GS, the 32GB iPhone 4 is now retailing for $893. [via Fortune]


By Electronista Staff

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iPhone, China, Apple, iPhone 4

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Previous Comments

  1. Paul Huang

    Dedicated MacNNer

    Joined: Sep 1999

    -3
    09/25, 11:20am | report spam | reply

    iPhone 4 without wifi is like a brick

    The black-market iPhone 4 is going to continue to thrive.


  1. adept1

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: May 1999

    +1
    09/25, 11:23pm | report spam | reply

    It's grey market, not black market....

    Most of the phones being sold to mainlanders are from Hong Kong, and they're not stolen, but rather obtained legally from the Hong Kong Apple website and re-sold to shops in Hong Kong, who then re-sell to mainlanders at a mark-up.


  1. iphonerulez

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Nov 2008

    +1
    09/26, 12:52am | report spam | reply

    WiFi is working fine on the Chinese iPhone 4

    http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/09/chinese-iphone-on-sale-this-friday-with-wi-fi-intact/

    It was the 3GS that was hobbled and not the iPhone 4. 50,000 pre-orders is decent and it shows there is some light demand for iPhones. I have my doubts that Apple will be able to sell more than a couple of million iPhones in China next year. My doubts are based on limited knowledge on how much money the average Chinese consumer can spend to buy some device like that. I'm just figuring their wages aren't high enough to generate a lot of sales for the iPhone. I hope I'm wrong.


  1. imagine engine

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Aug 2007

    -2
    09/26, 06:31pm | report spam | reply

    iPhone 4 supply

    50,000 satisfied iPhone 4 customers in China this past Saturday during their iPhone 4 launch while other countries carriers are still waiting on Apple to meet order requests. Here in Canada unless you're a kid that doesn't have any financial responsibilities you can't afford to camp out a day in advance in front of an Apple store or Rogers dealer location with the hope that maybe you'll get your hands on an iPhone 4. I've spent several months calling dealers and Apple as well as gas and parking fees driving around the city trying to buy two iPhone 4 16 GB to give as gifts to my parents. Everywhere I get the same response "Suggest you line up outside the store early as possible as most show up at 2 AM". While I love my parents and Apple products I don't have the time or money to spend waisting it camped out in front of a store. It's frustrating Apple hasn't been able to place additional pressure on Foxconn to meet orders of the carriers or at least have the brains to postpone their China launch until they sort out their stocking issues.


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