Its Ophone Débuts, as China Mobile's Keeps in Touch iPhone Opportunities
By CSC staff, Shanghai,Published:September 01,2009
While China Unicom announced three days ago that it would join hands with Apple to introduce the iPhone into China, it seems China Mobile has not given up on its own plans to market the popular new phone. "We have stayed in contact with Apple over the issue of introducing iPhone into the China market," China Mobile CEO Wang Jianzhou told the media yesterday.
In an e-mail to the Wall Street Journal, Apple spokeswoman Natalie Harrison said she could confirm that the sales agreement with China Unicom is not exclusive, which reignites the possibility for cooperation between Mobile and Apple. China Mobile has been hoping to launch the TD iPhone by Apple, but Apple has been hesitant on the issue.
China Mobile has officially released its Ophone, based on its own platform, and with its Mobile Market, opened two weeks ago, China Mobile has already launched a version suitable for the Chinese market to compete with iPhone's beautiful hardware and its APP Store,
"Both Ophone and iPhone have their own characteristics and they do not need to compete against each other." says Wang. In Wang's outline of the mobile internet in the future, China Mobile will challenge the 3G market with both Ophone and iPhone.
The 3G era is upon us, and with the rising status of operators in the industry chain, the model of them dominating the development of mobile phones is gaining increased recognition. The mobile phone operating platform is the next "entrance" for those intending to play in the mobile internet arena.
China Mobile is the world's first company to launch a mobile phone operating platform. Two years have passed since research started in 2007. Currently Marvell, Qualcomm, Leadercore Technology, Spreadtrum, and T3G Technology have launched chip solutions, while Lenovo, LG, Dopod, DELL, and Sangfei (Philips) have launched their own Ophone mobile phones, and Motorola, Samsung, and ZTE are starting R&D on Ophone terminals. 20 mobile phone companies are involved. The Ophone developer community has collected more than 8000 developers three months after its launch.
In the next few months, 2G and 3G Ophones will enter the market, and the first 3G Ophone developed by Lenovo will hit the market in September. The iPhone will likely be available in the fourth quarter of this year.