Apple’s flagship product, the iPhone 4, will arrive in China in early September, according to one report. The new handset will allegedly be sold by Apple’s partner in the Asian giant, China Unicom. The iPad will also arrive in the country sometimes afterward, although specifics are unknown.
MarketWatch, citing a China media group, reports China Unicom has acknowledged the iPhone 4 and the iPad will ship to the nation soon. However, the two products won’t be introduced into the China market simultaneously.
Earlier this month, the Chinese government okayed a Wi-Fi version of the 8GB iPhone 3GS. Although Apple’s iPad was recently approved by China’s safety regulators, the company is awaiting approval of the 3G version.
The timespan between Apple introducing the iPhone in China and the Wi-Fi handset finally being approved permitted gray-market versions to gain a foothold among the country’s consumers. Some observers wonder if China Unicom will experience the same push-back when the iPhone 4 and iPad are introduced.
Despite the challenges Apple faces in China, the Cupertino, Calif. company has voiced its eagerness for making larger inroads into the populous nation. Apple recently opened its second major retail store in China, with eventual plans to develop 25 stores in the country.
Apple’s chief operation officer Tim Cook recently said the iPhone maker is seeing 144 percent growth in China.
