Last year when Apple released the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c China was one of the launch markets for both new smartphones. There’s no denying the fact that Apple has focused a lot on China and has succeeded in getting its smartphones across all major carriers in the country. The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus will be released in a handful of launch markets tomorrow but China is not one of them. This time around the launch of Apple’s new smartphones has been blocked in China by regulatory and licensing issues.
Earlier today the country’s official Xinhua news agency revealed that while both new iPhones have received regulatory approval from concerned authorities which is required before they can be used on domestic frequencies, the devices won’t be allowed to go on sale until a network license is granted.
There’s confusion and speculation about this license and when it will ultimately be granted to Apple so that it can start selling its new iPhones in one of the most lucrative smartphone markets in the world.
Apple’s shares have also been hit because of the difficulties its facing bringing the new iPhones to China. The company hasn’t commented on the China launch and has only said that it is working hard to bring this device to the market as soon as possible.