Apple has delayed the launch of the iPhone 6 in China due to regulatory setbacks from the government.
Apple, the renowned smartphone making company, is being criticized for delaying the most-anticipated launch of iPhone 6 in one of the key smartphone markets, China. After unveiling two new models of iPhone 6 with bigger screen sizes on Tuesday, the smartphones are set to hit the stores as early as next Friday, Sept.19. But the Cupertino tech giant has chosen 10 countries around the world for its initial launch, which covers the United States, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore and the U.K.
Apple hasn't directly addressed the delayed launch of iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in China in its official press release, Wednesday, but the media has circled a few possibilities. According to a report by the New York Times, Apple is waiting to receive routine certification from China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). The agency is responsible for inspecting new smartphones before they are sold on Chinese carrier networks.
Apple has already informed the telecom partners in China, including China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom, about the delay in launch of the new phones, Wednesday. The carriers are not pleased with Apple's decision, after all the marketing campaigns for the iPhone 6 are already launched. China Mobile and China Telecom have gone ahead and even taken pre-orders for the unreleased handset.
The news comes as a bit of surprise for consumers too, who witnessed the launch of iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C on the same day as its U.S. launch last year. Considering Tim Cook's vision for China is to see it grow beyond the U.S. in terms of smartphone sales, the delay in launch is quite disheartening.
It is also not clear if the late arrival of iPhone 6 in the country is due to the accusations of using Find My iPhone and iCloud features to spy on the Chinese users. But the tech giant has vociferously rejected these claims.
Apple has promised to bring its two new iPhones to a total of 115 markets by the end of this year and we are hoping to see China and other key markets to be included in the next wave of iPhone release.
