China Telecom reportedly has 'Dragon Plan' to sell iPhone 5
updated 08:55 am EDT, Wed September 14, 2011
China Telecom may go all out for iPhone 5 deal
China Telecom may have an all-out marketing campaign for its iPhone 5 launch if details given by a purported corporate insider. Referred to as the "Dragon Plan" by the Southern Metropolis Daily newspaper, it would see the second-largest Chinese carrier spend the equivalent of $234.6 million to market Apple's hardware. Pre-orders would start in September with the expected release in October.
On the record, China Telecom hasn't officially confirmed any deal. Company chair Wang Xiaochu has already said, however, that the company would offer steeper discounts on contracts if and when the iPhone 5 was available.
The campaign if real could see a significant boost to Apple's China sales. It already has a foothold in the country through China Unicom, but the existing provider's smaller stature and lower resources to promote itself have reduced its chances versus Android phones on China Telecom and China Mobile. Apple has seen its revenue in China grow six times larger in the past year and may be keen to keep that momentum going.
