iPad2 expected to hit mainland China in May

Days ago, Chinese Apple fans were still anxious with uncertainty over when the iPad2 would reach the mainland market, but things are looking up now that the iPad2 has been approved by China's 3C product certification and is predicted to be launched on the mainland sometime in May, the Beijing Morning Post reported on April 11.

The report says the Wi-Fi version of the iPad2, model A1395, has been approved by China's 3C products certification for its service platform.

As of now, the release date of the 3G version of iPad2 is unsure due to the unfixed deal negotiation between Apple and Chinese operators. The Wi-Fi iPad2 will appear on the Chinese mainland market as early as May and no later than the end of June, according to a reliable source. However, Apple has not released any official schedule.

3C product certification is an obligatory product certification system in China. It approved iPad2's certification and gave it a five-year-certificate with series number of 2011010902468575 on April 8.

On March 12, Apple officially started selling iPad2 in the American market and priced WiFi iPad2 at 499 U.S. dollars, 599 U.S. dollars and 699 U.S. dollars and 3G iPad2 at 629 U.S. dollars, 729 U.S. dollars and 829 U.S. dollars. And since March 25, another 25 countries and regions around the world started selling the product.

Although the iPad2 still has not entered the Chinese mainland market officially, smuggled products have already flooded the market, causing a period of price reduction.

Take iPad2 (16G) as an example, its price has been reduced from more than 6,000 yuan to about 4,700 yuan. Customers believe the price of it will continue to fall since parallel imports are arriving from Hong Kong.

Also, some sources say that Apple, Inc. has started submitting design specification and shopping for components to build the iPad3. Maybe, the iPad3 would be born in this autumn to surprise Apple fans around the world.

At the same time, the domestic tension over the supply of authentic iPhone 4 products has been relieved quite a lot. China Unicom not only has a plentiful supply of contract products but also will release a new contract program to enlarge promotions on April 12.

A worker in the Sanlitun Apple shop in Beijing told reporters that their reservation time has already advanced from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Now, the prices of bare iPhone 4s on Chinese market have been reduced, and the iPhone 4 (16G) is priced at about 5,400 yuan.

Clearance sales of the iPhone 4 have begun in Hong Kong in anticipation of the iPhone 5, one source says.

By Wang Hanlu, People's Daily Online

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