It's official. After years of waiting, Apple's (AAPL -0.65%) iPhone is now on sale at China Mobile (CHL), the world's largest telecom company. Investors should be jumping for joy.
Since it was first announced, the analyst community has been hard at work trying to determine just how significant a driver this deal could be for both Apple and China Mobile in 2014 and beyond.
This deal couldn't have come at a better time, as both Apple and China Mobile desperately need new growth drivers in order to keep their shareholders happy.
Winner, winner
If early word is any indication, Apple and China Mobile expect a banner weekend indeed.
According to sources familiar with Apple's supply chain, Apple has already shipped well more than 1 million iPhones to China Mobile in anticipation of this weekend's likely sales swoon. Equally encouraging, China Mobile's chairman also fed the bullishness when he confirmed that preorders already stand in the "multi-millions" as well.
In the video below, tech and telecom analyst Andrew Tonner looks at some of the key storylines heading into the weekend and the possible financial impact this megadeal could have for both Apple and China Mobile.
