China Mobile Stores Going All Out for iPhone and iPad Promotion

Following the start of pre-orders for the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c on China Mobile earlier this week, new photos from PRC and ME show just how much the world's largest carrier is emphasizing its launch of Apple's products.

china_mobile_store_iphones
The carrier's relatively small store at the Link City shopping mall in Shenzhen is covered in Apple promotional signage, including wall-mounted banners and a large scrolling digital ribbon sign advertising discounted pricing on the new iPhones, extra free-standing signage, and even a flatscreen television replaying video of Apple's iPhone 5s/5c introduction from September.

Not only were there Apple advertisements all over the place, but even Phil Schiller was present, his A7 chip announcement playing on a flatscreen TV. A majority of the ad and display space in the store had been dedicated to Apple. If this is any indication, China Mobile is planning to aggressively promote their new Apple partnership in the hopes of blunting any advances from China Unicom and Telecom.

One of the store's two display tables is entirely devoted to Apple products, with iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, iPad, and iPad mini units on display for customers to try out, extra iPhone 5c samples showing the various color options, and a China Mobile salesperson staffing the table at a large iMac.

The China Mobile iPhone launch comes just as market research firm Counterpoint Research revealed a significant jump in Apple's smartphone market share in China in October, with Apple leaping from sixth place to third with over 10% of the market on the strength of the iPhone 5s and 5c launches. With China Mobile opening iPhone availability up to millions of potential new customers beyond launch partners China Unicom and China Telecom, Apple is clearly looking to make a significant move in the world's largest market.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro 3 4ths Perspective Aluminum Camera Module 1

New iPhone 17 Pro Details: Brighter Display, Best Battery Life, and More

Wednesday September 3, 2025 5:33 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models will feature a number of significant display, thermal, and battery improvements, according to new late-stage rumors. According to the Weibo leaker known as "Instant Digital," the iPhone 17 Pro models will feature displays with higher brightness, making it more suitable for use in direct sunlight for prolonged periods. The iPhone 16 Pro and...
iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 Pro Clear Case Leak Reveals Three Key Changes

Sunday August 31, 2025 1:26 pm PDT by
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series on Tuesday, September 9, and last-minute rumors about the devices continue to surface. The latest info comes from a leaker known as Majin Bu, who has shared alleged images of Apple's Clear Case for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, or at least replicas. Image Credit: @MajinBuOfficial The images show three alleged changes compared to Apple's iP...
iphone 16 pro ghost hand

iPhone 17 Pro: 5 Reasons Not to Upgrade This Year

Monday September 1, 2025 4:35 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series this month, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming to...
iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro Prices Estimated Ahead of Apple Event Next Week

Tuesday September 2, 2025 1:50 pm PDT by
Just one week before Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series, an analyst has shared new price estimates for the devices. Here are J.P. Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee's price estimates for the iPhone 17 series in the United States, according to 9to5Mac: Model Starting Price Model Starting Price Change iPhone 16 $799 iPhone 17 ...
iPhone 17 Pro Dark Blue and Orange

iPhone 17 Release Date, Pre-Orders, and What to Expect

Thursday August 28, 2025 4:08 am PDT by
An iPhone 17 announcement is a dead cert for September 2025 – Apple has already sent out invites for an "Awe dropping" event on Tuesday, September 9 at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. The timing follows Apple's trend of introducing new iPhone models annually in the fall. At the event, Apple is expected to unveil its new-generation iPhone 17, an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17...
iOS 18 on iPhone Arrow Down

Apple Preparing iOS 18.7 for iPhones as iOS 26 Release Date Nears

Sunday August 31, 2025 4:35 pm PDT by
Apple is preparing to release iOS 18.7 for compatible iPhone models, according to evidence of the update in the MacRumors visitor logs. We expect iOS 18.7 to be released in September, alongside iOS 26. The update will likely include fixes for security vulnerabilities, but little else. iOS 18.7 will be one of the final updates ever released for the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR,...
iPhone 17 Pro on Desk Centered 1

Survey: Nearly 70% of Users Plan to Upgrade to iPhone 17

Monday September 1, 2025 8:24 am PDT by
A new survey has found that nearly seven in ten iPhone owners in the United States plan to upgrade to an iPhone 17 model, signaling strong demand ahead of Apple's expected unveiling of the devices at its September 9 keynote. Smartphone price comparison platform SellCell surveyed over 2,000 U.S.-based iPhone users in August to assess upgrade interest and brand loyalty before Apple's event....

Top Rated Comments

Plutonius Avatar
153 months ago
I banned iPhones (and smartphones) from all meetings at work.

I think more will get done if you also ban meetings at work.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rogifan Avatar
153 months ago
Most of Wall Street believes Apple will sell about a few million iPhones, tops, on China Mobile's network. That's out of China Mobile's 750 million subscribers. Apple is estimated to sell about measly 1% of iPhones out of China Mobile's entire user base. Quite a bit of confidence in Apple... NOT! Apple is being majorly disrespected by Wall Street and there's no one from Apple willing to step up and tell them to go to hell. :mad:

What's your source for "most of Wall Street"?
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tootall Avatar
153 months ago
Most of Wall Street believes Apple will sell about a few million iPhones, tops, on China Mobile's network. That's out of China Mobile's 750 million subscribers. Apple is estimated to sell about measly 1% of iPhones out of China Mobile's entire user base. Quite a bit of confidence in Apple... NOT! Apple is being majorly disrespected by Wall Street and there's no one from Apple willing to step up and tell them to go to hell. :mad:

Consumers will tell them with their wallet...
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AppleScruff1 Avatar
153 months ago
As an apple shareholder, this makes me very, very happy.

As an apple fan, this also makes me happy - millions of people that wanted the iPhone can finally get one, legally! The more people that experience the iPhone, the better the world will be :)

(and I'm not kidding, iPhones bring people closer, and connect our world in a way that nothing else can... it's amazing :) )

This has to be the funniest post I have read here for a long time!
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Wingsy Avatar
153 months ago
Copy In Reverse :)

I think they'll overtake Samsung, atleast until the Samsung Galaxy S5 (or whatever) is released.

Samsung even copied the letter and number in Apple's latest phone. They had to reverse the letters so they wouldn't get sued, just like they had to reverse engineer the iPhone to copy it too. \s
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
spyguy10709 Avatar
153 months ago
As an apple shareholder, this makes me very, very happy.

As an apple fan, this also makes me happy - millions of people that wanted the iPhone can finally get one, legally! The more people that experience the iPhone, the better the world will be :)

(and I'm not kidding, iPhones bring people closer, and connect our world in a way that nothing else can... it's amazing :) )
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)