Chinese media reported on Wednesday that Apple Inc. had extended invitations to Chinese journalists to the tech company's September 11 event to be held in Beijing. The media also said that invitations were sent out just hours after news spread about Apple releasing its newest models in the US. Apple would be launching a less expensive iPhone model in its Cupertino, California headquarters on September 10.
Should the news about the newest iPhone launch be true, the event held in Beijing would be the first time Microsoft held near-synch launches in the US and China. China is currently the biggest mobile phone market in the world. Apple lost its star appeal in the Chinese market from strong, affordable rivals like Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd..
The Beijing event had also increased the chances of Apple clinching a deal with the world's biggest mobile phone company by customers, China Mobile Ltd.. China Mobile is the only major mobile carrier in China that does not have a deal with Apple. Senior executives from both companies had met in late July, triggering expectations that both tech firms are close to inking a deal.
Apple and China Mobile did not return calls nor respond to emails to Reuters for comment.
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