China Mobile still in talks with Apple over iPhone

China Mobile, the country's largest mobile operator, said Friday it was still in negotiations with Apple over the sale of iPhones in China.

"We have been in constant talks with Apple on this issue," company chairman Wang Jianzhou told reporters on the sidelines of the nation's annual session of parliament.

China Unicom, China Mobile's rival, became the first operator to bring iPhones into the world's largest mobile market when it started selling the iconic device in October.

Wang also said China Mobile's planned investment in Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, part-owned by Citigroup, will benefit shareholders in the short and long term.

Plans for the investment have so far met regulatory requirements, Wang added.

The telecoms giant said Wednesday it was in talks with Shanghai Pudong over plans to buy new shares in the lender as well discussing "potential strategic cooperation".

Reports said last week that Shanghai Pudong, a medium-sized Chinese bank, had plans to issue around 2.2 billion new shares, representing a 20 percent stake, to China Mobile.

(c) 2010 AFP