China Unicom Clinches iPad Deal

China Unicom, the exclusive provider of Apple's iPhone in China, has won the right to sell the iPad in the world's largest mobile market.

According to a source from China Unicom, the company secured the deal with Apple to introduce the iPad in China. But no timetable has yet been disclosed.

China Unicom is also scheduled to launch the iPhone4 in early September. But sources said that the launch date will not be September 13, as was widely reported by the media.

The iPad introduced by China Unicom will use the 3G micro sim card, which is also used in the iPhone 4. The card will hit the markets in September, together with the launch of iPhone 4, said the source.

China Unicom started to sell the WiFi-enabled iPhone 3GS in China last week, priced at 4,999 yuan. However, Apple's Beijing store started to sell the device at the same time for 1,000 yuan less. The WiFi-enabled iPhone 3GS was sold out in Apple's Beijing Store the first day it launched.

According to the source from China Unicom, the price difference was caused by miscommunication between Apple and China Unicom, and the company is working to resolve the issue. But the source said it is still unclear whether the situation will be repeated when the iPhone 4 is launched.