Tim Cook 'Incredibly Optimistic' About New Partnership with China Mobile
Just a couple of days before the iPhone launches on China Mobile, the world's largest carrier, Apple CEO Tim Cook participated in a media event with China Mobile Chairman Xi Guohua in Beijing, where The Wall Street Journal reports that Cook discussed how "incredibly optimistic" he is about Apple's new cooperation with the carrier.
"We've gotten to know each other....today is a beginning, and I think there are lots more things our companies can do together in the future," Mr. Cook said.
The immediate future, according to China Mobile Chairman Xi Guohua, includes "multi-millions" of iPhones already ordered by the carrier's customers. Earlier today, it was reported that Apple's iPhone 5s supplier Foxconn had shipped roughly 1.4 million iPhone 5s units in advance of the phones' launch in China on January 17.
As Cook tells the WSJ, Apple will now be able to sell iPhones in 3,000 more locations, with China Mobile extending Apple's reach to many cities Apple currently doesn't have a presence in. Cook reinforces Apple wants to make the "best products", which means it's unlikely Apple alters its product strategy to make products at lower prices than it currently does.
In the interview, Cook also alluded to future iPhone models and cellular iPads making their way onto China Mobile's network, similar to other carriers around the world.
China Mobile has over 760 million subscribers and is expected to bring many new customers to Apple, significantly increasing the company's presence in China.
Update: The Wall Street Journal has now posted a more complete version of Cook's comments from the Q&A portion of the media briefing.
Update 2: CNBC has video of an interview with Cook and Xi.
Popular Stories
Apple today shared an ad that shows how the upgraded Center Stage front camera on the latest iPhones improves the process of taking a group selfie.
"Watch how the new front facing camera on iPhone 17 Pro takes group selfies that automatically expand and rotate as more people come into frame," says Apple. While the ad is focused on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, the regular iPhone...
In the iOS 26.4 update that's coming this spring, Apple will introduce a new version of Siri that's going to overhaul how we interact with the personal assistant and what it's able to do.
The iOS 26.4 version of Siri won't work like ChatGPT or Claude, but it will rely on large language models (LLMs) and has been updated from the ground up.
Upgraded Architecture
The next-generation...
Apple plans to announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, according to Macwelt, the German equivalent of Macworld.
The report, citing industry sources, is available in English on Macworld.
Apple announced the iPhone 16e on Wednesday, February 19 last year, so the iPhone 17e would be unveiled exactly one year later if this rumor is accurate. It is quite uncommon for Apple to unveil...
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and then use it to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps.
The feature is currently available in 13 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, and it is expected to launch in at least seven more in the future.
To set up the...
New MacBook Pro models with the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips could arrive as soon as Monday, March 2, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
In today's "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said that the release of new MacBook Pro models is tied to the release of macOS Tahoe 26.3. The launch is said to be slated for as early as the week of March 2. He added that the M4 Pro and M4 Max models on sale today...
