China Mobile baulks at iPhone terms

China Mobile, the world's largest mobile operator, won't negotiate with Apple to sell its iPhone because of concerns about business models and commercialisation, a UPI report said. China Mobile's chairman, Wang Jianzhou, said such business concerns have prevented the two sides from initiating talks to sell the Apple iPhone in China.

'Our door will remain open as long as there is customer demand,' Wang said. Apple had planned to launch the iPhone in the huge, lucrative Chinese market this year, having released it in the US and Europe in 2007. The device comes equipped with phone services, as well as Internet access, video and music services.

Wang told Xinhua News that China Mobile has more than 380 million customers and is expanding by attracting customers from rural areas.