Snow brings a cool reception for iPhone 5 (2)

Analysts said that in addition to the new selling policy adopted by Apple, sufficient distribution channels and ample stocks had also resulted in the low-key welcome for the new arrival.

The device is the first Apple mobile phone product to be promoted by two telecom operators since its debut. China Unicom (Hong Kong) Ltd, together with China Telecom, have conducted nationwide marketing campaigns to win iPhone 5 clients.

The two operators have opened iPhone 5 sales through tens of thousands of outlets across the country. Meanwhile, chain stores selling electronic products, including Gome Electrical Appliances Holdings Ltd and D. Phone Group have been promoting iPhone 5 handsets online and in stores.

Xiang Ligang, a Beijing-based telecom industry insider, said: "If customers can buy the iPhone 5 anywhere, why bother to buy one at Apple flagship stores or from scalpers?"

Apple's ranking slips

China now probably delivers about 15 percent of Apple's total income. Tim Cook, the company's chief executive officer, said in October that, from July to September, earnings in China grew 26 percent year-on-year, with sales hitting $5.7 billion.

Apple is opening two more flagship stores in China - in Chengdu, capital city of Sichuan, and in Hong Kong - over the weekend, the Oriental Morning Post reported, giving the company eight stores on the Chinese mainland and three in Hong Kong.

However, Apple's ranking in the Chinese smartphone market fell two notches to sixth place in the third quarter, with it having less than 10 percent of market share, research firm International Data Corp said.

Sun Kai, analyst at researcher GfK China, said, "There are too many choices in the market for Chinese smartphone buyers. It seems that Apple's introduction of products to the Chinese market is lagging behind other phone manufacturers."

Kevin Wang, China research director at iSuppli Asia Shanghai Ltd, said he did not expect the iPhone 5 to help lift Apple's market ranking in China.

"But I think it will have a good performance in the Chinese market, and secure a shipment of 15 million phones in China next year," he said.

We recommend:
'Boeing Dreamliner riddled with errors	HK tops China City Competitiveness Ranking	China to open world's longest high-speed railway
10th China Int'l Automobile Exhibition concludes	Harbin-Dalian high-speed railway starts operation	New wave of communication tools
Alibaba's 2012 transaction volume hits 1 trln yuan	China's savings rate world's highest	IPhone 5 goes on sale in China