Is Apple's Deal With China Mobile on the Horizon?

By Erin Kennedy and Evan Niu, CFA – Nov 25, 2013 at 7:00PM

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Is Apple's iPhone finally launching on China Mobile, China's largest wireless carrier? Investors are speculating the timing will coincide with the carrier's introduction of a 4G LTE network.

The previous date that Apple (AAPL 1.27%) investors were hoping for on a deal with China Mobile (CHL) has now come and gone, with no official announcement. Never to be deterred, the rumor mill is now focusing on a new upcoming date for a possible iPhone launch on China's (and the world's) biggest wireless carrier: Dec. 18.

China Mobile has officially confirmed that it will roll out its TD-LTE network on that date, and all the pieces are lined up for the iPhone to make its debut at the same time. Apple's device is now technically compatible and has already been certified.

China Mobile is now up to 760 million subscribers, of which only 176 million are 3G customers. Regardless of how you slice it, Apple will significantly expand its addressable market once it inks this expected deal.

In this segment of Tech Teardown, Erin Kennedy discusses the iPhone's long-awaited debut on China Mobile with Evan Niu, CFA, our tech and telecom bureau chief.

Erin Kennedy and Evan Niu, CFA, both own shares of Apple. The Motley Fool recommends Apple and owns shares of Apple and China Mobile. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.