Apple Finally Preparing to Launch WAPI-Capable iPhone in China?

Cloned in China reports on an article [Google translation] from Chinese site PCPOP claiming that Apple partner Foxconn has begun manufacturing WAPI-capable iPhones for distribution in China. The Chinese WLAN Authentication and Privacy Infrastructure (WAPI) standard is similar to the global Wi-Fi standard.

The iPhone launched in China at the end of October, but did not offer Wi-Fi-like connectivity due to legal restrictions imposed by the Chinese government. The restrictions were lifted prior to the iPhone's launch, but not before Apple had already produced a significant quantity of the WAPI-less models. At the time of the iPhone's launch there, China Unicom representatives had expressed hope that revised models offering WAPI could be available by the end of 2009.