Two cell companies in China want their share of the iPhone and the profit it will bring. These two companies are China Unicom and China Mobile. Many stores in China have reached deals with China Unicom to provide the iPhone to their customers. China Mobile, however, thinks otherwise. It recent letters sent to retailers who have reached deals with China Unicom, China Mobile said:
Many cell phone distributors received formal notification that “Selling iPhones is not recommended,” or “Selling iPhones is not allowed or China Mobile will fine you or stop cooperation with you.”
This letter was sent to stores that have distribution deals with China Mobile as well as China Unicom and others.
Any social channel that signed a contract with us (China Mobile) is not allowed to engage and process related business for our competitors, is not allowed to display and sell competitors’ products, is not allowed to market or recommend competitors’ products in any form.
The funny thing is, China Mobile doesn’t even have a deal with Apple to offer the iPhone. Apple passed them over in favor of selling the iPhone with China Unicom.