China Telecom Gearing Up for iPhone 5 Launch with Massive $234 Million Marketing Push

china telecom
China Telecom is reportedly gearing up for the launch of the iPhone 5, training staff members and even beginning advertising as it prepares to begin taking orders as soon as the end of this month.

China Telecom has instructed some of its provincial branches to begin preparations for the sales of the iPhone 5, including conducting staff training, and the operator will accept orders for the phone at the earliest at end September, reports Southern Metropolis Daily, citing a company insider.

According to the report, a LED screen at the Changan Road branch of China Telecom had started advertising the forthcoming debut of the iPhone 5.

The carrier is expecting to begin pre-sales of the iPhone 5 later this month, with official sales beginning next month. China Telecom is also said to be dedicating a massive 1.5 billion yuan ($234.5 million) to marketing for the device under an initiative known as the "Dragon Plan".

China is a booming market for Apple, but Apple has so far partnered only with China Unicom as an official carrier for the iPhone. China's other two major carriers, China Mobile and China Telecom, have been pushing hard for the iPhone, and it now appears that at least China Telecom is lined up to begin offering the device with the launch of the iPhone 5.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

Alleged iOS 19 Icons Front Page Tech

iOS 19 Leak Reveals Alleged New Design With Rounder App Icons, Floating Tab Bar, and More

Monday April 7, 2025 3:13 pm PDT by
YouTube channel Front Page Tech is back today with another video that provides a closer look at iOS 19's alleged design changes. The video contains re-created renders of iOS 19, which are allegedly based on real footage of the software update, provided by sources within Apple. Overall, iOS 19 is expected to have a more glass-like, visionOS-inspired design, with added translucency for user...
iphone 16 pro colors 1

Is Now the Time to Upgrade Apple Devices Before Tariffs Lead to Price Increases?

Friday April 4, 2025 3:41 pm PDT by
If you have an older Apple device that you've been considering upgrading, you're probably wondering how the newly announced tariffs might impact prices going forward, and whether it's worth buying now before there's a price hike. Given analyst and economist responses to the tariffs, market panic, and Trump's stance on the current financial chaos, the answer is that making a purchase...
iPhone 17 Pro 3 4ths Perspective Aluminum Camera Module 1

iPhone 17 Pro's New Rear Camera Bar 'Same Color As Rest of Device'

Monday April 7, 2025 2:09 am PDT by
Apple's upcoming iPhone 17 Pro models will feature a redesigned rear camera panel that spans the width of the device, but it will be the same color as the iPhone itself, rather than being part of a two-tone design. That's according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Writing in his latest Power On newsletter, the reporter says the iPhone 17 Pro won't have a two-toned back, as some renders have...
2024 iPhone Boxes Feature

iPhones Could Cost Up to $2,300 in the U.S. Due to Tariffs, Analyst Says

Friday April 4, 2025 9:30 am PDT by
U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced that steep tariffs will be applied to imports from many countries, starting April 9. The tariffs could have a significant impact on Apple, as the company assembles the majority of iPhones in China, and products imported to the U.S. from China will be subject to a 54% tariff. iPhone prices could increase by up to 43% in the U.S. due to the...
iOS 19 Mock WWDC25 Feature

iOS 19 Expected to Run on These iPhones

Monday March 31, 2025 5:28 pm PDT by
iOS 19 will not be available on the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, or the iPhone XS Max, according a private account on social media site X that has accurately provided information on device compatibility in the past. The iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max all have an A12 Bionic chip, so it looks like iOS 19 will discontinue support for that chip. All other iPhones that run iOS 18 are expected...
iphone x front back

Apple Planning 'Bold' New 20th Anniversary Design for 2027 iPhone Pro

Monday April 7, 2025 2:46 am PDT by
Apple is preparing a "major shake-up" for the iPhone's 20th anniversary in 2027, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. iPhone X released in 2017 for 10th anniversary Writing in his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman says that Apple plans to launch a foldable iPhone alongside a "bold" new iPhone Pro model that makes more extensive use of glass. Could this mean Apple plans to realize former...
iPhone 17 Pro 34ths Perspective

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 10 New Features

Sunday March 23, 2025 10:00 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of March 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone ...

Top Rated Comments

newyorksole Avatar
177 months ago
Apple seems to really be trying to keep the iPhone 5 a secret - they seem to be working extra hard to do so.

that's why I believe there hasss to be a major upgrade. the same iPhone 4 look with a better processor, camera and battery? nah.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jesses Avatar
177 months ago
Can't wait to upgrade from my "free" samsung phone of 2 years!
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
soco Avatar
177 months ago
I wonder how it would work if a company like Verizon just didn't do marketing for it. Just put up some signs in the stores that it's in stock and let people flow in.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ohiobam Avatar
177 months ago
Ready

Just like everyone else...I want to know when it is coming. My wife and I are still on the super-slow 3g and can't wait for whatever phone comes out with whatever features!
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
alexexexex Avatar
177 months ago
aggressive marketing is one major reason why iProducts are so successful.
Partly, although i think the word-of-mouth effect for the growth of sales of all apple products shouldn't be discounted. Letting people play with your iPhone/iPad and enthusing how much you're enjoying it has a far greater effect than ads i think.

I think if it was terrible then bad word-of-mouth could kill it just as fast.

I got a G5 iMac 6 or 7 years ago and have had all 4 iPhones.

Now my close family have 4 iMacs 6 iphones 2 ipod touches 4 ipads 5 macbook pros a macbook air and 2 appletvs. None of that due to marketing all due to seeing how great the products are first hand.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
applefan289 Avatar
177 months ago
Apple seems to really be trying to keep the iPhone 5 a secret - they seem to be working extra hard to do so.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)