iPhone 4S arrives China

Though China is not included in the list of 4th batch global rollout continues of iPhone 4S announcing, China Unicom, the second-biggest telecom carrier in China, has received the go-ahead to start selling the iPhone 4S in China as soon as Christmas, or no later than Jan 23, the date of the Chinese New Year.

Apple plans to have the iPhone 4S up for sale in over 70 countries by the end of the year 2011, and its current pace of releasing iPhone 4S will make them meet that goal fairly easily. But if the new model releases in China by the end of this year, the sales will skyrocket.

According to the report, the Cupertino, Calif., company's latest handset received a certificate valid for three years. The permit was believed to have been the last obstacle for Apple.

As an aside, Apple must have known releasing iPhone 4S in China should pass the necessary certifications, why does CEO Tim Cook ask for the permit earlier? If so, China Unicom could roll out the device as soon as Christmas and iPhone 4S sales will boom. Remeber the debute in Hong Kong on Nov 11? Preorders sold out in less than 10 minutes, I'm pretty sure the same case will happen in China mainland. So many iPhone fans are waiting for the iPhone 4S eagerly!

As the response to the report, China Unicom said it expects to launch the new model of iPhone 4S as early as Christmas, or probably New Year", though the company said it had already finished all the preparations for the iPhone 4S and was just waiting for the final permit from the government. The carrier estimates the 16GB iPhone 4S will cost 4,999 yuan ($786) off contract, and different prices for different contracts with the carrier.

Besides, the news, widely spread that China Telecom may be set to join China Unicom in offering the iPhone 4S but it's better wait for an official announcement.