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WSJ: China Mobile to carry the less-expensive iPhone 5C

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The less-expensive iPhone, dubbed ‘iPhone 5C’ unofficially for now, will be coming to China Mobile, according to WSJ. Apple’s CEO Tim Cook was in China last month to speak with China Mobile’s executives about the deal. We had heard whispers and rumors from analysts and other spectators about the news, but WSJ’s confirmation adds massive credibility to the news.

It isn’t clear if Apple and China Mobile have signed an official sales agreement, but the fact that Apple is planning to ship phones implies a deal has been struck.

Apple has asked Foxconn, its longtime contract manufacturing partner, to add China Mobile to the list of carriers slated to receive a new low-cost iPhone, one of these people said. It isn’t clear when the phones would be delivered. Apple is shipping two new iPhones this September, according to people familiar with the company’s plans, including a new high-end model and a cheaper version.

Apple will be holding a satellite media event in China for the first time, joining events in Tokyo and Berlin (and Cupertino, of course). It looks like this upcoming iPhone launch will be the biggest ever across the globe, and analysts are expecting that the new carriers – which includes DoCoMo, Japan’s largest carrier – will double launch week sales.

Update: Bloomberg says that the China Mobile iPhone, while coming, won’t be announced at the September 10th event.

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