IPhone 5 pre-order race begins (4)

Purchasing iPhones via the carriers remains the top choice of consumers, according to an online poll launched by Chinese news website qq.com in November. Over 30 percent of some 30,000 respondents said they would choose to buy the smartphone via a carrier, while 18.6 percent would buy it via Apple's official outlets.

Some home appliance retailers including Suning, Gome and Dazhong are also taking pre-orders for the iPhone 5.

Recommended Features: Vibrant Opportunities amid Transition From 'Made in China' to 'Created in China' A Journey to Cultural Renaissance The Vision of A Pillar Industry China: A Fast-growing Force in IPR A Splendorous Landscape of China's Wealth A Decade of Fastest Development Eastern Boom Lightens Western Gloom Chinese firms 'potential Trojan horses'？