Unicom confirmed as Chinese iPhone / G1 provider?

It's been a long, arduous road to Shanghai for the iPhone, but its trip may finally be at an end. Sure, there are already thousands of the things in the pockets and purses of trendy Chinese right now, but an official launch there has taken ages. Last summer it was looking like China Mobile had scored the deal with Apple, but word is now that China Unicom may have completed the upset, posting up a page on its site detailing the iPhone's specs and including the phone in its list of supported headsets. The company hasn't officially confirmed the phone's availability or anything else, but word on the streets of Shanghai is that the phone will be launched there on May 17th.

Update: Looks like it has posted specs for the G1 as well, albeit complete with T-Mobile branding. Hmm. [Thanks, Sze!]

[Via JLM Pacific Epoch; thanks, Scott]

[superhobo @ Mar 25th 2009 8:15AM]

I predict it wont make much of a difference.

[superhobo @ Mar 25th 2009 8:43AM]

Totally unrelated.

Why can't I change my picture?

[kangbp.nyc @ Mar 25th 2009 8:55AM]

considering how china is "communist" shouldnt these phones belong to everyone? talk about all the money apple will make when every chinese gets one of these

[r3loaded @ Mar 25th 2009 9:00AM]

@kangbp.nyc "considering how china is 'communist'"

Haha, very funny joke. The big cities of China are one of the most capitalistic places on earth - they're just command capitalists instead of the traditional type.

[Boards of Canada @ Mar 25th 2009 9:34AM]

I want a Cryphone!

[Boards of Canada @ Mar 25th 2009 9:36AM]

oops, that was for the next post... gloriaaaa! gloriiiiaaaaa! Jehovaaaa! gloriaaaaaa!

[Mark Anderson @ Mar 25th 2009 10:08AM]

Sure it'll make a difference. All the people who can afford one will buy it legally instead of through the blackmarket. No-one else will bother because the handwriting recognition is rubbish.

[cool seethie @ Mar 25th 2009 10:34AM]

does anyone else see the irony in iphones being made in china but not being sold there till now?

[iphonerulez @ Mar 25th 2009 11:02AM]

Most Chinese can't afford the iPhone. It should make little difference in sales for Apple. The theory of billions of potential users is overblown. If two million people in China buy an iPhone I'd be surprised. Unless Apple builds a special low cost model with the features that Chinese users want, they might as well just forget about penetrating the Chinese market. Is there even any brand loyalty in China or do they just buy the cheapest knock-off stuff they can get their hands on?

[Tony @ Mar 26th 2009 4:27AM]

there were already more than 1 million iphones in china before it became official
china people are more high tech than you think ;)

[iGoon#2 @ Mar 25th 2009 8:20AM]

Chine allreads has the *Takes a deeeeeeeeeep breath

-IPhone
-CiPhone
-CiPhone 3G
-CiPhone 3.5"
-oPhone
-iOrgane
-iFone
-iFone 3G
-SciPhone
-SciPhone i68+
-Mini iPhone
-iPhonz N99
..........................

[iGoon#2 @ Mar 25th 2009 8:25AM]

...........

HiPhone
ByePhone
CryPhone
CoolTouchPhone X999
MiPhone
iFone 3G 3.2
IPHONE T32 WinMo
iOrgane F1
iOrgane F1 850/1900
iOrgane F4 Stylish
Daxian X999
iPhone A88
Cect P168
Cect P168+
Desay N8
NPhone

[Jamar @ Mar 25th 2009 8:27AM]

Duh. Apple isn't going to bend to a carrier's will again after AT&T. Especially when it comes to something important like UMTS vs. TD. Also disabling WiFi? Nuh-uh.

[gareth @ Mar 25th 2009 8:30AM]

Do the Chinese like the iphone ?

[ALEIS @ Mar 25th 2009 8:36AM]

no.

[Macca @ Mar 25th 2009 8:49AM]

Yes, undoubtedly it would be extremely popular in China if an official launch took place.
Mobile phones are a big market in China, as many Chinese choose to spend their spare money on the trendiest phones there are, that makes the iPhone a big contender when it becomes official.

[terrylondon00 @ Mar 25th 2009 11:32PM]

Over 1,000,000 unlocked iPhones are used on China's cell networks.

[acsxzq @ Mar 26th 2009 10:14PM]

no, cuz all cellphones in China are launched without WIFI
can you image an iphone without WIFI

[zygzs @ Mar 25th 2009 8:38AM]

2代？三代？ os 3.0?

[loocas @ Mar 25th 2009 9:13AM]

What the fuck?!

[Kizorblade @ Mar 25th 2009 10:03AM]

Depends on when it and 3.0 launches I guess..

[Jamar @ Mar 25th 2009 10:12AM]

For the ...ahem... less literate among us, that says "2G version? 3G version? OS 3.0?"

[blarvh @ Mar 25th 2009 8:40AM]

Supported handsets surely?

[Josh Ladella @ Mar 25th 2009 8:44AM]

Am I the only one who had to reread "Unicom" because I mistook it for "Unicorn"

Engadget seemingly has a love for the mythical creatures, so I didn't think anything of it at first.

[Bizam! @ Mar 25th 2009 9:39AM]

I'm totally with you on this one. I was waiting for a unicorn chaser thread to break out...

[r3loaded @ Mar 25th 2009 9:01AM]

Well, ofc it'll be Unicom, China Mobile are pushing their homegrown TD-SCDMA standard...and I doubt Apple will want to refit their iPhone with a new radio.

[badbob001 @ Mar 25th 2009 9:21AM]

The link to the G1 shows
ROM: 128 MB
RAM: 64 MB

while the offical spec from HTC is:
ROM: 256 MB
RAM: 192 MB

This is probably a fubar along with the t-mobile branding in the picture since the lowered specs is too crippling to think about.

[badbob001 @ Mar 25th 2009 9:24AM]

Then again, G1 is a trademark to t-mobile so most likely the full name will be something like "Chinese G1" or "G1 from China"... given that, anything goes and this can in fact be a gum dispenser.

[Digitek @ Mar 25th 2009 9:33AM]

Why would anyone in China buy an iPhone 3G in May when the 3rd gen is just around the corner?

[iphonerulez @ Mar 25th 2009 11:12AM]

Why would anyone, anywhere in America buy any other handset when the iPhone 3.0 is just around the corner? There's going to be such a buildup of rumors of included features that you might as well be waiting for a total transformation of the whole mobile industry around just one handset. I'm not saying it's true, I'm just saying the hype will continue to build in intensity until the iPhone 3.0 is officially announced. So many people will just wait and wait, especially if the rumors about an HD OLED display and a beefier graphic processor are true.

[Digitek @ Mar 25th 2009 11:50AM]

The 3G has been available here in America since last year. China has a speculative May 17th release date. That's why I'm curious as to why anyone over there would buy a just released (in China) product that is about to be replaced by a new version of it in a few months.

My point, I think they should just wait and release the 3rd gen when it comes out and skip the 3G May 17th release.

[Shank @ Mar 25th 2009 12:14PM]

Seems u all missing the point, success is defined by sales n nothing else. even if they only sell 2 million iphones in 1 month, it will equal revenue..,.,.,who knows when iphone 3.0 hardware would hit china.,

[Greg @ Mar 25th 2009 2:38PM]

Success in business = Proft, not Sales!

[louis @ Mar 25th 2009 1:22PM]

Actuually, I don't think it'll be very popular if apple doesn't localize iphone. Just like what Google did in the past.

[MSM @ Mar 25th 2009 1:39PM]

guys,, haven't anyone noticed that the pictures are a little wierd??

If you look at the iphone gallery, the first picture is of an iPhone 3G, the second picture is of the original iPhone,,, These people can't find any pictures of an iPhone 3G ??

[fennster @ Mar 25th 2009 10:42PM]

I hope this isn't true. As far as I know, both companies are government-owned. But China Mobile offers MUCH better coverage/service than China Unicom.

[francouech @ Mar 26th 2009 9:28AM]

Want some other news ? french people will have real TV on their iphone (april 7th) thanks to Orange : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Owfk2QoIZl4&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eblogiphone%2Efr%2F&feature=player_embedded