iPhone encroaches on China
Apple is set to boost its flagging share of the world’s biggest mobile phone market, as the iPhone becomes available on network provider China Telecom from next month. Last quarter Apple ranked just fifth in China with 7.5 per cent of the smartphone market, pipped by local firms ZTE and Huawei. However, China Telecom is expected to sell about 1.5m iPhones this year, rising to up to 4m in 2013. Apple has signed up two of China’s top three carriers, but not China Mobile. biggest, China Mobile – which has more than 600m customers – does not yet support compatible technology.