China Unicom said it is working with Apple to introduce iPhones equipped with WiFi after government regulations forced Apple and Unicom late last year to disable the capability.
It appears Apple and Unicom are now complying with Chinese regulations by incorporating the Chinese homegrown standard called WAPI alongside WiFi, which is part of revised Chinese regulations. Unicom's Chief Executive Chang Xiaobing announced last week that the company was working with Apple to include WiFi but didn't discuss the regulations or give a time frame in which iPhones will include WiFi.
WiFi is in demand because it's cheaper to use than 3G connections. Xiaobing said the company will consider compensating those iPhone users who lack WiFi if the operator does indeed roll out WiFi-enabled phones. Chinese customers already have to shell out between $730 and $1,020 for an iPhone.
For more:
- see this Wall Street Journal article
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