Apple signs iPhone deal with China Mobile

Apple's iPhone 5s and 5c models will be available in the markets of the world's most populous country on January 17, 2014 as Apple and China Mobile reaches a deal Sunday to sell iPhones in China. China Mobile Chairman Xi Guohua announced that the iPhone models to be sold in China Mobile stores will support 4G (TD-LTE) and 3G (TD-SCDMA) networks, providing customers with high-speed mobile service. Speaking on the historic agreement, Apple's chief executive Timothy D. Cook said "China Mobile presents us the opportunity to bring iPhone to the customers of the world’s largest network.” The deal stipulates that China Mobile will start receiving pre-orders for iPhones on December 25, and will begin selling on Jannuary 17. China Mobile, which has about 760 million customers, is planning to build world's largest 4G network, already providing 4G services in 16 cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. By the end of 2014, the company plans to complete the deployment of more than 500,000 4G base stations, which will provide 4G services to more than 340 cities. Apple is currently the no. 3 seller in the country's mobile phone market, behind Samsung and Lenovo.