Apple plainly took China Unicom by surprise on Sept. 13 by announcing it would start selling Wi-Fi-enabled iPad devices in China just four days later.
No mention of Apple’s strategic partner, telecom operator China Unicom, appeared in the announcement.
A month earlier, Unicom had proudly announced clinching a deal with Apple (AAPL) to offer iPads with 3G wireless Internet functions. Shipments of the tablet computers were reportedly stocked at Unicom offices around the country to prepare for a formal marketing launch.
Unicom would be iPad’s sales agent, and it was thought a Unicom version of the device would be available as early as September.
But plans to sell USIM cards for 3G service for iPad froze on Sept. 1.
Now the telecom operator is being forced to reassess its position.
Investors.com quoted a spokesman for China Unicom as saying "some actions taken by Apple Inc. are making things awkward for China Unicom."
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