Tighter iPhone regulations from Unicom

If you buy an iPhone on a deal from China Unicom, the official telecom carrier that offers iPhones in the Chinese market, then you cannot split that deal. But this is what scalpers have been doing and it has allowed iPhone users to end up with China Mobile, China Unicom’s giant competitor.

The new restrictions will take effect on Wednesday for new customers and will not affect existing customers. 

According to the announcement, subscribers who buy iPhones from China Unicom must use it with the bundled China Unicom subscriber identity module (SIM) card. If the SIM card and handset do not match, the operator will block the mobile phone, freeze the deposit, and terminate any promotion associated with the contract. 

English People’s Daily Online reports that China Mobile, the biggest telecom carrier in the country, has offered a free SIM card-cutting and fitting service at its stores for iPhone users.