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Post by aapl4kiki on Dec 4, 2013 17:59:22 GMT -8
WSJ reporting CHL is signed!
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Post by Iceage on Dec 4, 2013 18:05:23 GMT -8
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2013 18:16:51 GMT -8
China Mobile Ltd has signed a long-awaited deal with Apple Inc to offer iPhones on its network, a person familiar with the situation said, an arrangement that would give the U.S. technology giant a big boost in the world's largest mobile market.
The rollout of iPhones on the world's largest mobile carrier by users, with over 700 million subscribers, is expected to start later this month, around the time of a Dec. 18 China Mobile conference in Guangzhou, according to two people familiar with the carrier's plans. China Mobile is one of the world's last major carriers that doesn't offer the iPhone.
At the Dec. 18 event, China Mobile plans to unveil a brand for its fourth-generation, or 4G, network. China Mobile executives have said they would only begin to sell the iPhone after introducing 4G services. China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said Wednesday it gave licenses to China Mobile and its smaller rivals to operate the higher-speed mobile networks, clearing one of the last hurdles.
An Apple spokeswoman declined to comment.
A deal with China Mobile would give Apple access to a subscriber base that is seven times the size of Verizon Wireless, the U.S.'s largest carrier. Greater China, including Hong Kong and Taiwan, is Apple's third biggest market after the U.S. and Europe in terms of revenue.
But Apple has struggled to gain market share in China in smartphones amid competition from lower-cost rivals. The Chinese market presents a major growth opportunity for Apple at a time when its revenue growth has slowed in the U.S.
Research firm Trefis said China Mobile may sell about 1.5 million iPhones per month, racking up almost 20 million additional iPhone activations in 2014. An additional 20 million iPhones would represent a 17% increase from Apple's unit sales of handsets in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 28.
China Mobile has been in talks with Apple to offer iPhones for several years. But Apple had been reluctant to bring the iPhone to the carrier's unique and relatively unreliable 3G network. In addition, China Mobile had bristled at Apple's insistence on sales volume guarantees.
The Journal reported in September that Apple was preparing to ship its new iPhone 5S and 5C models to China Mobile in a sign that the two sides were moving closer to an agreement.
Using different 3G technology, smaller rival China Unicom Hong Kong Ltd. has offered iPhones since 2009 and China Telecom Corp. began selling iPhones in 2012. But their subscriber bases are smaller than China Mobile's. About a quarter of China Mobile's subscribers are on its 3G network with the rest still on an older second-generation network.
Analysts said Apple has become more eager to tap into China Mobile's big pool of potential iPhone buyers to keep pace with global handset leader Samsung Electronics Co. 005930.SE +0.07%
According to market researcher Gartner, Samsung shipped 32.1% of smartphones world-wide in the third quarter, unchanged from a year earlier. In the same period, Apple's market share fell to 12.1% from 14.3%. Apple's share is expected to grow in the fourth quarter because of the introduction of its new iPhones in mid-September.
Samsung is also the largest smartphone vendor in China, with a 21% market share in the third quarter, compared with Apple's 6% share, according to research firm Canalys.
Mizuho Securities analyst Marvin Lo said China is a very attractive market to handset makers as its smartphone penetration is lower than places like the U.S.
Mr. Lo said China Mobile has the country's wealthiest subscriber base. He estimated that at least 10% of China Mobile's subscribers would be potential iPhone customers.
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Post by Red Shirted Ensign on Dec 4, 2013 18:17:13 GMT -8
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Post by rezonate on Dec 4, 2013 18:44:14 GMT -8
Did my part... Picked up a top-of-the-line 1TB/2.6GHz/16GB retina MBP + accessories for $4000. Will get the iPad Air, retina iPad mini, and two 5Ss when I come back from vacation in Feb. Good plan! I got the 2.6ghz/16gb 15" MBPr before the world circumnavigation - best piece of travel gear ever. Of course I had to scrimp on the SSD with only 512gb. With over 280gb media in 4 months, wish I'd gone large!
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Post by appledoc on Dec 4, 2013 18:49:06 GMT -8
Sell the news.
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Post by Red Shirted Ensign on Dec 4, 2013 18:51:20 GMT -8
Based on what this news will do to the fundamentals of the stock, let the sellers sell it. Buyers will step up.
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Post by aapl4kiki on Dec 4, 2013 19:00:15 GMT -8
I hope you're right. Will BTMFD with both hands at that point.
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Post by phoebear611 on Dec 4, 2013 19:08:43 GMT -8
There's been no announcement from the Companies - either of them - still have to consider this in the "rumor" category. I realize this as having a very high probability of happening but it's still not official - so be careful
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Post by podboy on Dec 4, 2013 19:14:12 GMT -8
Screw it I'm gonna a start drinking!
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Post by podboy on Dec 4, 2013 19:17:34 GMT -8
LOL!!! This is not regular news and it's not priced in. Just when I think this board couldn't get any more doom and gloom doc opened up his mouth.
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Post by sponge on Dec 4, 2013 19:18:18 GMT -8
That's pretty good. It must have taken a long time to put it together. If we get to 650 by Feb 7, I will fly up to Seattle. . Time for some celebratory drinks with Mercel.
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Post by artman1033 on Dec 4, 2013 19:36:17 GMT -8
I am without words........ I AM SPEECHLESS! I expected more.....
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Post by artman1033 on Dec 4, 2013 19:39:58 GMT -8
I don't think this is the way the Chinese government or Apple announce new partners.
If it is true, it is not good for either.
There is a certain protocol in announcing these agreements.
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Post by podboy on Dec 4, 2013 19:44:54 GMT -8
Does it really concern you that much artman? Both companies need each other, it's not like one is screwing over the other.
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Post by pauls on Dec 4, 2013 19:46:14 GMT -8
No reason to doubt the news, imo. Whether or not it has been priced in (last week, for instance), we shall see.
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Post by terps530 on Dec 4, 2013 19:47:34 GMT -8
I got a linkedin message from an Apple recruiter today. 'Your background appears to be a potential match to existing and future product development. '
While I bet they reached out to a lot of potential engineers, the thought of it made my pants move a bit ;D
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Post by podboy on Dec 4, 2013 19:49:59 GMT -8
I doubt it is priced in but who knows. This announcement is much bigger than iwatch or itv or anything else we've been daydreaming of.
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Post by terps530 on Dec 4, 2013 19:56:49 GMT -8
I doubt it is priced in but who knows. This announcement is much bigger than iwatch or itv or anything else we've been daydreaming of. i think its somewhat priced in at this point. Based on all the progress thus far, I think 8 out of 10 people would have bet that the deal would be signed before the end of the year- it was just a matter of what day. Maybe it will be a bigger deal to the people who don't follow apple so closely, and now this is the green light for them to get in.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2013 20:04:12 GMT -8
I don't think this is the way the Chinese government or Apple announce new partners. If it is true, it is not good for either. There is a certain protocol in announcing these agreements. I think every major carrier addition of the last few years has been leaked heavily in advance. (I could be mistaken but WSJ seems to be Apples preferred official leak outlet). it's possibly in the interest of both parties: - for the carrier: the leaked news helps retain subscribers who are thinking of switching to another carrier to get the iPhone. - for Apple: the leaked news potentially depresses sales of other vendors handsets and builds launch demand on the new carrier as customers wait for the iPhone.
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Post by BillH on Dec 4, 2013 20:05:15 GMT -8
Loved it but considering that I had to put The Carpenters Christmas Portrait on pause to give it a listen, I may not be the best judge of cool.
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Post by osx10 on Dec 4, 2013 20:08:36 GMT -8
If Institutional buying is still down YOY, I don't think it is priced in yet.
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Post by mcharliem on Dec 4, 2013 20:12:20 GMT -8
I don't think there needs to be an announcement from Apple or China Mobile, this WSJ story will be treated as as if it's 100% official.
That being said, I'm with the minority here as I think this has a buy-the-rumor-sell-the-news type move written all over it.
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Post by ericinaustin on Dec 4, 2013 20:13:25 GMT -8
It's funny but when I go on the news aggregator sites and I read the articles about Apple and read the various articles and threads in different journals, it is amazing to see what a 180 degree turn has been made in the perception where Apple is and is going. All the ducks are lining up in such a tight row. It seems to be happening even quicker than I thought. Might get a pullback because of that but that would seem like a last chance opportunity.
Barring an unforeseen macro disaster or a company screw up, the next 12 months are going to be fun.
Eric in Austin
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Post by ericinaustin on Dec 4, 2013 20:16:34 GMT -8
And just to throw my prediction into the hat. I think we see a strong move up tomorrow .
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Post by Red Shirted Ensign on Dec 4, 2013 20:34:14 GMT -8
The WSJ has a credibility that trumps about any other outlet...I think we move up in the morning but settle back to a mildly up day.
No matter what happens tomorrow, if true this news solves many of Apple's issues for next quarter's revenue beat. Analysts' Numbers will be reworked....and January's earnings and outlook even more fascinating to consider.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2013 20:40:01 GMT -8
And just to throw my prediction into the hat. I think we see a strong move up tomorrow . +1. Institutions are under weight. They don't seek the bottom or top; they seek safety and this news just put a life jacket on AAPL bobbing in an ocean of stocks called Wall Street.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2013 20:41:29 GMT -8
I think we move up in the morning but settle back to a mildly up day. Careful, you're beginning to sound a bit like Sponge here... ;D
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2013 21:00:24 GMT -8
China mobile subscribers make up 11% of the worlds population.
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Post by chasmac on Dec 4, 2013 21:02:09 GMT -8
I think we move up in the morning but settle back to a mildly up day. Careful, you're beginning to sound a bit like Sponge here... ;D Sell, sell, sell!!! :-)
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