Apple shuns China iPhone 6 launch date in rumoured leak retaliation
Apple has shunned its Chinese market after it announced on Wednesday that the country’s mobile-service providers would not be receiving the iPhone 6 for sale on the promised international release date of 19 September.
Both iPhone 6 models were supposed to be released in China on 19 September
The new iPhone 6, which was launched at an Apple event earlier this week, will not be available in China on the date of its supposed Chinese launch in a week’s time, in a move which has left the nation’s mobile carriers out of pocket, according to the New York Times.
Chinese vendors of the smartphone were reportedly taken by surprise at the news that the iPhone 6 will not be released in the nation at the same time as the rest of the world.
An Apple spokesperson told Chinese mobile networks that the delay was because “there are some details which are not ready,” according to a sales manager at China Telecom, who added: “Apple completely let us down without prior notice.”
The delay is unprecedented from the firm which released the iPhone 5 and 5C in China on the international launch day without any similar trouble.
Apple has yet to confirm to The Drum why the smartphone’s release was delayed in China, however it is rumoured that the device has not yet received state sale approval.
Other commentators have claimed that the move was calculated by Apple to punish network carriers who earlier this month leaked posters revealing the iPhone 6 before the unveiling ceremony.
Zhong Yinghao, co-founder of Chinese firm Ru Guo Zhai Network, said on his Weibo account: “Why did the carriers post high-profile commercials ahead of the release, given that mainland China doesn’t have ‘first sale’ rights? I think there’s a high likelihood that mainland China was dismissed due to the leaks.”
This is Apple’s latest clash with China. Earlier this year the Californian firm admitted it breached the privacy of Chinese users by storing their personal data in a centralised server.