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Unauthorized and Crippled iPhones Available in China

Posted by Bezhou Feng on 05 September 2007 - 01:52 · 11 comments & 3611 views

The iPhone can be bought in China, even though Apple Inc. isn't selling it there and the gadget doesn't function properly despite costing twice as much as in the United States. Enthusiasts willing to pay 8,800 yuan ($1,170), or more than twice the cost of the 4GB iPhone in the US ($499), can buy the iPhone at electronics markets in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou, the computer and electronics newspaper Dian Nao Bao reported in its Monday editions. While the Chinese version can make calls and send text messages, it can't receive calls and has a nonfunctional voicemail.

Apple is currently selling the iPhone only in the United States, where it's restricted to AT&T Inc.'s cellular network. Last month, hackers were successful in unlocking the device so that it could be used on other carriers. Apple spokesman Natalie Kerris said Tuesday the company was not aware of specific reports of its phones being sold in China but said the sales were not authorized. "We said we would launch the iPhone in Asia in 2008," she said. "This is not that launch."

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(1 reply) #1 Posted by Sumeet on 05 Sep 2007 - 02:55: Whoever spends $1 170 on a phone that can't receive phone calls, is just plain stupid

Last edited by Sumeet on 05 Sep 2007 - 03:16

#2 Posted by billyea on 05 Sep 2007 - 03:36: I thought the iPhone was sort of crippled already.

(2 replies) #3 Posted by Hak Foo on 05 Sep 2007 - 03:50: I want a phone like that. I'm sick of people calling me and annoying me.

#4 Posted by Akaruz on 05 Sep 2007 - 05:55: well i know that china already has a iphone clone , and i did thought this news was about it

http://www.popsci.com/popsci/technology/e7...ecbccdrcrd.html

or

http://www.macnn.com/articles/07/01/29/iph...;startNumber=10

#5 Posted by tonyunreal on 05 Sep 2007 - 08:04: lol @ "Dian Nao Bao"

#6 Posted by gazebee2001 on 05 Sep 2007 - 08:48: Dian Nao Bao actually means "computer mag/post"

#7 Posted by Samboini on 05 Sep 2007 - 09:13: I am not suprised; i'd imagine if they looked hard enough they would find it in other countries with known piracy issues.

#8 Posted by dogmatix on 05 Sep 2007 - 20:11: Stand still for long enough in Shanghai, and they will clone you, too.

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