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| Release of iPhone 6 Delayed in China | Release of iPhone 6 Delayed in China |
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| BEIJING — Apple is facing a potential setback in China, one of its biggest and fastest-growing markets, after the much-anticipated introductions here of the new iPhone models were delayed. | BEIJING — Apple is facing a potential setback in China, one of its biggest and fastest-growing markets, after the much-anticipated introductions here of the new iPhone models were delayed. |
| On Wednesday, Apple told China’s three big state-owned mobile service providers that it would not release the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in mainland China on Sept. 19, when sales start elsewhere. The carriers had already booked advertising campaigns for the phones. | On Wednesday, Apple told China’s three big state-owned mobile service providers that it would not release the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in mainland China on Sept. 19, when sales start elsewhere. The carriers had already booked advertising campaigns for the phones. |
| The move set off consternation among Apple’s partners in China, as well as with consumers who had been eagerly awaiting the introductions. Apple did not explain the delay, executives at the carriers said, but it appeared the phones had not received approval from Chinese regulators to go on sale. | The move set off consternation among Apple’s partners in China, as well as with consumers who had been eagerly awaiting the introductions. Apple did not explain the delay, executives at the carriers said, but it appeared the phones had not received approval from Chinese regulators to go on sale. |
| The Chinese leadership and the state-controlled news media grew wary of foreign technology providers after revelations last year by Edward J. Snowden of American cyberspying. In July, CCTV, the main state-controlled television network, broadcast a report saying that the iPhone could represent a threat to China’s national security. The accusations were promptly rejected by Apple. | |
| Apple’s staff in China appeared to have been caught off-guard by the last-minute change of plans, with one executive saying on Wednesday that all of the company’s stores in Beijing and Shanghai had been preparing for sales to begin on Sept. 19. The executive spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. | Apple’s staff in China appeared to have been caught off-guard by the last-minute change of plans, with one executive saying on Wednesday that all of the company’s stores in Beijing and Shanghai had been preparing for sales to begin on Sept. 19. The executive spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. |
| Representatives of Apple told the Chinese mobile carriers only that “there are some details which are not ready,” according to a sales manager at China Telecom, who declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter. “Apple completely let us down without prior notice,” the manager added. | Representatives of Apple told the Chinese mobile carriers only that “there are some details which are not ready,” according to a sales manager at China Telecom, who declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter. “Apple completely let us down without prior notice,” the manager added. |
| Apple declined to comment on Wednesday, as did representatives for China’s three main mobile carriers, which also include China Mobile and China Unicom. Apple’s Chinese website carried a statement saying only that the date of the iPhone 6’s availability would “be updated soon.” | Apple declined to comment on Wednesday, as did representatives for China’s three main mobile carriers, which also include China Mobile and China Unicom. Apple’s Chinese website carried a statement saying only that the date of the iPhone 6’s availability would “be updated soon.” |
| News reports in China on Wednesday said the iPhone 6 had not yet been approved by the Ministry for Industry and Information Technology, which must sign off on the technology of devices like smartphones. No approval for the iPhone 6 could be found on the regulator’s website on Wednesday. | News reports in China on Wednesday said the iPhone 6 had not yet been approved by the Ministry for Industry and Information Technology, which must sign off on the technology of devices like smartphones. No approval for the iPhone 6 could be found on the regulator’s website on Wednesday. |
| Initially, Apple tended to release new iPhones in the China market many months after they had been released elsewhere. That changed last year, when Apple started sales of the iPhone 5S and 5C models in China on Sept. 20, the same day as in the United States and other major markets. | Initially, Apple tended to release new iPhones in the China market many months after they had been released elsewhere. That changed last year, when Apple started sales of the iPhone 5S and 5C models in China on Sept. 20, the same day as in the United States and other major markets. |
| In January, Apple began selling iPhones through China Mobile, the country’s dominant mobile carrier. It had previously reached sales agreements with the country’s other two biggest carriers. | In January, Apple began selling iPhones through China Mobile, the country’s dominant mobile carrier. It had previously reached sales agreements with the country’s other two biggest carriers. |
| Greater China — including the mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan — is Apple’s fastest-growing major market and is the company’s third-biggest globally, after the Americas and Europe. Apple reported sales of $5.9 billion in greater China from April to June, a 28 percent increase from the same period a year earlier. By contrast, sales in other regions grew 1 to 6 percent. Greater China accounted for 16 percent of Apple’s total revenue in the three-month period, up from 13 percent a year earlier. | Greater China — including the mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan — is Apple’s fastest-growing major market and is the company’s third-biggest globally, after the Americas and Europe. Apple reported sales of $5.9 billion in greater China from April to June, a 28 percent increase from the same period a year earlier. By contrast, sales in other regions grew 1 to 6 percent. Greater China accounted for 16 percent of Apple’s total revenue in the three-month period, up from 13 percent a year earlier. |
| Apple was quick to respond when it was singled out by the CCTV report in July, which said an iPhone function that allowed a user’s location to be tracked could put state secrets at risk. | Apple was quick to respond when it was singled out by the CCTV report in July, which said an iPhone function that allowed a user’s location to be tracked could put state secrets at risk. |
| “We appreciate CCTV’s effort to help educate customers on a topic we think is very important,” Apple said in a statement responding to the report, rejecting accusations that the company tracks users’ locations. “We want to make sure all of our customers in China are clear about what we do and we don’t do when it comes to privacy and your personal data.” | |
| “Apple has never worked with any government agency from any country to create a back door in any of our products or services,” the statement said. “We have also never allowed access to our servers. And we never will. It’s something we feel very strongly about.” | “Apple has never worked with any government agency from any country to create a back door in any of our products or services,” the statement said. “We have also never allowed access to our servers. And we never will. It’s something we feel very strongly about.” |