China Unicom

An iPhone for China on Sunday?

UPDATE: China Unicom, as promised, launched its 3G service in 55 cities Sunday -- with plans to expand to 284 cities by the end of September -- but there was nothing in Chinese press accounts about its negotiations with Apple to carry the iPhone.

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For months, Apple (AAPL) watchers -- counting the days until Cupertino finally brings the iPhone to mainland China -- have had their eye MORE

Is wave-to-pay coming to the iPhone?

Almost as curious as the fact that China Unicom has started advertising Apple's (AAPL) iPhone on its Shanghai website -- even though no agreement to sell the device in China has been announced -- are some of the advanced features Unicom is promoting.

As Dan Butterfield reported early Wednesday on his iPhonAsia website, these include several functions that aren't officially available on current model iPhones, including:

Wave-to-pay
Mobile TV
Tethering (connecting a laptop to MORE

Is wave-to-pay coming to the iPhone?

Almost as curious as the fact that China Unicom has started advertising Apple's (AAPL) iPhone on its Shanghai website -- even though no agreement to sell the device in China has been announced -- are some of the advanced features Unicom is promoting.

As Dan Butterfield reported early Wednesday on his iPhonAsia website, these include several functions that aren't officially available on current model iPhones, including:

Wave-to-pay
Mobile TV
Tethering (connecting a laptop to MORE

China Unicom posts ad for iPhone

Although no deal has been announced, China Unicom posted ads for Apple's (AAPL) iPhone - including specifications for the model now on sale in nearly 80 countries - on an official China Unicom website.

The move follows reports last week of a breakthrough in the long running negotiations that have pitted China Unicom against its rival, China Mobile -- the world's largest cell phone carrier -- for exclusive rights to sell MORE

China Unicom posts ad for iPhone

Although no deal has been announced, China Unicom posted ads for Apple's (AAPL) iPhone - including specifications for the model now on sale in nearly 80 countries - on an official China Unicom website.

The move follows reports last week of a breakthrough in the long running negotiations that have pitted China Unicom against its rival, China Mobile -- the world's largest cell phone carrier -- for exclusive rights to sell MORE

New Chinese iPhone talks target May 17 -- UPDATE

Has Apple switched horses in China?

That's the thrust of a pair of news reports out of Beijing this week that suggest a deal to carry the iPhone in China could be reached as early as May 17.

The first report, published Monday by Interfax-China, offered a recap of the sticking points that seem to have scuttled negotiations between Apple (AAPL), which is desperately seeking a partner in the world's largest MORE