A new report says Apple’s launch of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus may be delayed in China due to delays in regulatory approvals. The report, from the 21st Century Business Herald [Google Translate], says the Chinese debut of the handsets may not happen until 2015.
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.
While Apple will reapply for approval, a date for that filing has not been determined, leaving the Chinese debut of the iPhone 6 up in the air.
Apple unveiled the new iPhones last week, setting a September 19 launch date for the U.S. and a handful of other markets. September 26 will see the handsets debuted to another round of countries. China is noticeably absent from both lists.
A delay could further damage Apple’s standing in the country, as it faces continued Government opposition, in the form of charges brought against Apple by the country’s state-controlled media.
Apple has reported increased revenue growth in China, and has plans to double its retail footprint in the coming years. Apple made sure that last year’s iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c both launched in China in the first wave of releases.
While the delay could impact Apple’s all-important holiday quarter financials, resulting in a possible drop in its stock price, it could actually aid the company in the following quarters, preventing the usual decline in iPhone sales and company revenue that quarters following a big product release usually bring.
The delay could also bring a smile to the face of gray market sellers in China, who buy iPhone handsets in other countries and then import them to China, selling them to wealthy customers at high markups.
The delay of the Chinese debut could also have a positive effect on supplies in other countries where the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are set to debut, allowing Apple to meet both the current and future demand for the devices.
The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus will be available for walk-in purchase to customers on Friday, September 19th at 8:00AM local time, at Apple retail stores. Both models will also be available on Friday from AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, additional carriers and select Apple Authorized Resellers, although supply at those stores will be limited.
Apple will begin selling the two phones in its retail stores and through third-party retailers and carriers beginning Friday, September 19th in the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore and the UK. The company will roll out the handset to more than 20 additional countries on September 26, those countries include: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey and United Arab Emirates.
