Apple has moved a step closer to selling its latest iPhone in China, receiving China Compulsory Certification (3C) for iPhone 5 from local authorities.
Two models of iPhone 5 received the 3C approval days after the new iPhone went on sale last Friday, Sina has reported.
The certificates mentioned the A1429 model supports China Unicom’s W-CDMA network, while the A1442 supports China Unicom’s cdma2000 network.
This cleared Apple’s first hurdle for the sale of the new iPhone 5 in China. The iPhone 5 must also receive a network license from the regulator, MIIT, and approval from China Radio Management before sales begin.
But industry watchers and local media widely expect that the hurdles will be cleared soon and China Unicom and China Telecom will start selling the iPhone 5 the end of the year.
China Telecom spokesperson declined to comment on the operator’s launch schedule and pricing plans for iPhone 5, but said the operator has undercut the pricing and tariff plans of iPhone 4S earlier last week.
Though China is not listed by Apple in the early target markets for the iPhone 5, Chinese gadget fans are scouring the internet grey market to locate the new smartphone, according to Reuters.