Apple CEO Tim Cook tells staff of ‘big plans’ for 2014 as China Mobile agrees to sell iPhone 5s from January

The latest 5S and 5C iPhones will go on sale in China from 17 January.

Meanwhile Tim Cook's email, which was sent over the weekend, gave a lengthy summary of Apple’s product successes over the past year including the iOS 7, while giving employees a big hint at what lies ahead for the coming year, according to 9to5mac which received the email.

At the end of the email Cook wrote: “We have a lot to look forward to in 2014, including some big plans that we think customers are going to love.”

The company is reportedly working on a number of new initiatives which many have speculated to be part of the “big plans” Cook alluded to. Among them are a fitness-sensored smart watch, and a more advanced version of its Apple TV, according to 9to5mac.

Meanwhile it has also been rumoured that Apple is developing an ad exchange for its iAd platform.

Cook's full email can be read below:

Team,

This holiday season, tens of millions of people around the world, from all walks of life, are experiencing Apple products for the first time. Those moments of surprise and delight are magical, and they’re all made possible by your hard work. As many of us prepare to celebrate the holidays with our loved ones, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on what we’ve achieved together over the past year.

First and foremost, we introduced industry-leading products in each of our major categories in 2013, showing the breadth and depth of innovation at Apple. We extended our lead in the smartphone market with iPhone 5s; launched iOS 7, an extraordinarily ambitious project; released OS X Mavericks for free to our customers; introduced the iPad Air and the iPad mini with Retina display; and this week began shipping the Mac Pro from a manufacturing facility in Austin, Texas. We also marked our 50 billionth download on the App Store – a milestone no one could have predicted we would reach so quickly.

Together we’ve shown the world that innovation at Apple goes beyond our products to the way we do business and how we give back to our community. This year, Apple raised and donated tens of millions of dollars for important charities and relief efforts like Red Cross aid to typhoon victims in the Philippines, and we continue to be the largest contributor to (PRODUCT)RED, supporting the Global Fund in its fight against the spread of AIDS in Africa. Just a few weeks ago, Jony Ive led an unprecedented effort that brought money and awareness to eliminating the transmission of AIDS from mother to child.

And finally, Apple is standing up for what we believe is right. We know that equality and diversity make our company and our society stronger, so we’ve urged the U.S. Congress to support workplace protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. We are also laser focused on our contribution to several environmental initiatives and we will increase our efforts even more in this area in the future.

We have a lot to look forward to in 2014, including some big plans that we think customers are going to love. I am extremely proud to stand alongside you as we put innovation to work serving humankind’s deepest values and highest aspirations. I consider myself the luckiest person in the world for the opportunity to work at this amazing company with all of you.

Happy Holidays,

Tim

Of Apple's deal to sell iPhone's through China Mobile, the world's largest phone network, Cook said in a statement; "Apple has enormous respect for China Mobile and we are excited to begin working together. China is an extremely important market for Apple and our partnership with China Mobile presents us the opportunity to bring iPhone to the customers of the world's largest network."

The agreement will be seen as a victory for Apple, which has long sought to work with China Mobile in a bid to increase its share of the Chinese Market, which is dominated by cheaper Android smartphones.