China Mobile and NTT DOCOMO are some of the largest carriers in the world, and more importantly for Apple, they are some of the largest carriers in the world that does not offer the iPhone on their network in an official capacity. NTT DOCOMO has been reported to have signed a deal with Apple and will start offering the phone this fall, and while China Mobile has expressed their interest, the iPhone is only expected to begin selling on their network come November, if the rumors are to be believed.
In any case if both carriers were to successfully launch the iPhone by the end of the year, what could this mean for Apple? According to Chris Whitmore, an analyst with Deutsche Bank, he expects that that the deals Apple made with both carriers will be significant enough where an additional 35 million iPhone units could be sold in 2014. This is based on how there are about 35 million gray market, unlocked, iPhones on China Mobile’s network, and Whitmore believes that with the iPhone being offered officially, he expects many subscribers to upgrade to them.
What do you guys think? Will the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C be Apple’s most successful iPhone launch?
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