iPhone 6 and 6 Plus Launches in China May Be Delayed Until 2015

[MacRumors]

Apple may be forced to wait until 2015 to launch the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in China, according to a report in 21st Century Business Herald [Google Translate]. If true, the delay could have consequences for the company both in terms of customer momentum in the critical Chinese market and overall earnings projections.

Sources with knowledge of the situation told 21st Century Business Herald that Apple's latest iPhone models have failed to receive the necessary approval from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). This certification is required for Apple to begin selling the iPhone in the Asian country. A re-application date for approval has not been determined, leaving Apple's Chinese iPhone 6 debut uncertain.

Apple unveiled the iPhone last week, announcing launch dates of September 19 for its first wave of markets and September 26 for a second wave of countries. Noticeably absent from either list was China, which is a region of significant growth for Apple. For the past year, Apple consistently has reported increased revenue growth from China, with plans to double its retail footprint and build out its channels in the coming years. Apple last year touted its progress in China, with the company having worked hard to ensure the iPhone 5s and 5c launched in the first group of countries.

Initially, this year's China delay may impact Apple's important holiday quarter and affect its stock price over the coming months as the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus expand to other countries except China. Demand for the iPhone 6 in China is high, with carriers having prematurely accepted pre-orders of the phone ahead of Apple's announcement.

Due to such demand, Apple will have to battle the gray market in which resellers purchase iPhone 6 units in other countries, import them into mainland China and then sell the phones to wealthy Chinese consumers at exorbitant prices. iPhone 6 models already have started to appear in China ahead of this week's global launch.

Over the long term, the delay may have a beneficial effect on subsequent quarters, which usually show a decline in iPhone sales and company revenue. If Apple were to launch the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus in January 2015, the company may forestall this slump due to a spike in sales from Chinese consumers.

This delay also may help Apple balance supply and demand of the iPhone, which is selling out quickly in the regions that are currently accepting pre-orders. A 2015 launch would help Apple meet the current demand and ensure it has ample supply for a major Chinese launch at the beginning of next year.

Apple's iPhone 6 and 6 Plus go on sale this week starting Friday, September 19 in the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore and the UK. A second round of sales will begin September 26 in 20 additional markets, including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, and more. Contract pricing starts at $199 for the 16 GB iPhone 6 and $299 for the larger 16 GB iPhone 6 Plus.

Article Link: iPhone 6 and 6 Plus Launches in China May Be Delayed Until 2015

 

[Dekema2]

With all of these model leaks, dummy companies and their fake knockoffs Apple will be entering a saturated market by then

 

[CoreForce]

Better availability in the western markets.
I'm fine with it.

 

[vertgo]

Someone forgot to shake the right hands/grease the right wheel.

 

[bbotte]

Isn't there a story on the front page that they are already popping up in China? LOL

https://www.macrumors.com/2014/09/15/iphone-6-6-plus-china-vietnam/

 

[cRizz]

I was wondering why China wasn't among the first batch of release countries at the keynote. Now the answer ;-)

 

[lk400]

And Samsung just released it's new advertisement of 2 guys in Apple genius lookalike clothing meeting with Chinese officials, trying to close a deal through the translator lady from the keynote...

 

[madKIR]

That's really bad news for those lining up at the stores during the first weeks, let alone this weekend.
Chinese scalpers will be impossible to compete with.

 

[haruhiko]

Scalpers in Hong Kong rejoice!

 

[2457282]

And Samsung just released it's new advertisement of 2 guys in Apple genius lookalike clothing meeting with Chinese officials, trying to close a deal through the translator lady from the keynote...

Should have used Siri to translate instead of Google. Just saying...

 

[Brandon263]

iPhone 6 and 6 Plus Launches in China May Be Delayed Until 2015

Better availability in the western markets.

I'm fine with it.

Yeah, because Apple's so bad at supply chain management that the only way it can meet demand in certain countries is if it's not able to sell its products in other countries

 

[KdParker]

Reallly.....so how many phones are going to bought outside of China and then sold there ?

I guess quite a few

 

[cambookpro]

Bit unrelated, but why doesn't the Chinese Apple site use the purple flower image in the marketing materials? Is it to do with licensing, or do the Chinese government have a vendetta against them?

On the homepage, it's replaced with the home screen, and on the iPhone 6 page, it's replaced by one of the new space wallpapers.

Just a weird thought.

 

[Traverse]

Better availability in the western markets.
I'm fine with it.

How gracious of you.

----------

Bit unrelated, but why doesn't the Chinese Apple site use the purple flower image in the marketing materials? Is it to do with licensing, or do the Chinese government have a vendetta against them?

On the homepage, it's replaced with the home screen, and on the iPhone 6 page, it's replaced by one of the new space wallpapers.

Just a weird thought.

I actually like the space better than the flower. But that's just me.

 

[krravi]

With all those leaked parts, its a matter of time before someone actually sells a fully assembled phone....

 

[RightMACatU]

So they also have redtape issues in China

 

[mikefj2004]

Apples priority needs to be the Western Markets first. While China is a growing and emerging market, Apple perhaps is focusing to much on Eastern Markets while slowly loosing share in the West. Focus on the States and neighbors to the north. Trust me, the rest will follow

 

[furi0usbee]

2105.... they mean the iPhone 60!

 

[marcr1230]

This smells like protectionism or a punitive slap. Somehow apple offended these people or someone else paid them off. It's unlikely that the phone meets standards and tests in all the other countries but not china

 

[bushido]

well its still coming out in Hong Kong on friday

 

[macs4nw]

This smells like protectionism or a punitive slap. Somehow apple offended these people or someone else paid them off. It's unlikely that the phone meets standards and tests in all the other countries but not china

I'm thinking along the same lines. It's too implausible to imagine Apple didn't apply in a timely fashion, considering how important the Chinese market is to them.

Also it's not like this is their first product needing clearance from the Chinese standards body MIIT.

 

[Blorzoga]

Scalping Prices Should Skyrocket now.

China was one of the biggest markets that was buying iPad3s when they came out and were scarce. With 4+ months without iPhone 6's in China, there will be people lined up for months buying them and sending them to China.

 

[tonyunreal]

Bit unrelated, but why doesn't the Chinese Apple site use the purple flower image in the marketing materials? Is it to do with licensing, or do the Chinese government have a vendetta against them?

That flower is a Chrysanthemum right? I speak Chinese and I think there are two possible explanation of why Apple would want to self-censor the image within China (neither makes sense to me or seems necessary though) :

1. the Chinese word of Chrysanthemum is a internet meme for "butt hole" (the organ, not a person);

2. probably because of a) the Jasmine "revolution" incident in Beijing or the more recent b) Sunflower movement in Taiwan.

Again I think whoever did think may be over-thinking too much.

 

[iZac]

Everyone in China buys theirs from Hong Kong anyway.

 

[ke-iron]

I couldn't be more happier by this delay. Ship the China bound iPhones to the U.S. thank you!