in the South China Morning Post. The cause of the holdup arises from the iPhone Air utilizing an eSIM rather than traditional SIM cards. Consequently, it appears that there are certain regulatory concerns that Apple must resolve with the Chinese government.
Nevertheless, Apple is hopeful that all three of China’s primary telecom carriers — China Unicom, China Mobile, and China Telecom — will ultimately offer the iPhone Air.
Shortly following the introduction of the iPhone Air, Apple’s online platform in China announced that the device would be available for pre-order on September 12 and set to hit retail stores a week later. The iPhone Air webpage has since been modified to state that “Release information will be updated later.”
No timeline has been specified for when that might occur, but it is reasonable to conclude that Apple is diligently addressing any potential objections and challenges. Remember that China represents a significant market for Apple and, as of the last quarter, sales in China contributed to 15-17% of Apple’s worldwide revenue.
