Apple edges closer to China Mobile

An Apple job ad for a Beijing-based iPhone engineer serves as yet another indications that the iPhone is finally coming to China Mobile's network.
 
Apple is looking to hire an engineer that would “be responsible for the overall management of the technical interface to all carriers in the Greater China region.”
 
This would include managing the approvals process for all Apple hardware and software, and working with operators to manage technical issues and trial new technologies.
 
According to the posting, job applicants require “in-depth knowledge & experience with wireless communications systems” including TD-SCDMA, the home-grown standard China Mobile uses for its 3G network.
 
The role also requires experience with GSM/EDGE, W-CDMA, CDMA, TD-LTE and FDD LTE.
 
The job ad provides the latest evidence that after years of stalled negotiations over subsidies, Apple and China Mobile may have worked out a deal for the world's largest mobile operator by subscribers to officially carry the iPhone.
 
Last month, alleged leaked posters purportedly from an upcoming China Mobile iPhone ad campaign circulated Chinese microblogging sites.
 
Earlier in September, China's Telecom Equipment Certification Center granted Apple a network access license covering a smartphone that runs on the mobile standards used in China Mobile's 3G and 4G networks.