China's third-largest wireless carrier confirmed the imminent launch of the iPhone 4S on its network and suggested that it could begin selling the device as early as the end of February or the beginning of March.
China Telecom said in a press release that it "has already started preparatory work for the launch of the iPhone 4S," Apple Insider reports citing China Daily.
A subsidiary of the company offered up the late February or early March timing, but it declined to discuss pricing.
Also, the iPhone 4S received the final license needed for the device to be sold in China. Apple and China Telecom were granted the two other required certifications earlier this month.
"Now China Telecom is almost ready for everything (to sell iPhone 4S)," telecom expert Xiang Ligang said.
The wireless operator's confirmation of the launch of the iPhone 4S came on the heels of an analyst report that projected the addition of both China Telecom and first-placed China Mobile could result in 40 million incremental unit sales for Apple in 2013.
Adding China Telecom, which boasts 36 million 3G subscribers and is roughly the size of Verizon Wireless, the largest carrier in the U.S., as a carrier partner is certainly a big win for Apple. The Cupertino, Calif., company, however, is likely looking to rival China Mobile as the biggest prize. With approximately 650 million subscribers, the carrier is the world's largest wireless operator.
As late as November 2011, Apple and China Mobile were reportedly still in talks over the iPhone. Given that the deal is complicated by the fact that the carrier's 3G network is based on a proprietary technology, some have speculated that Apple will wait until it releases an LTE-capable iPhone to launch the device on China Mobile.
