The Apple Store, a concept store located on 5th Avenue in New York, is a "Mecca" for the worldwide fans of Apple electronic products. Now CEO of Apple Steve Jobs is proposing to introduce his unique marketing model to China.
Beijing Business Today reported on Tuesday that two Apple stores are projected for setting up in China. The first one will be 1,000-square-meters, in Beijing's Sanlitun. The second, occupying 3,000 square meters, will be located near Beijing's Qianmen business district.
Sources from Apple China confirmed that the first store would open before this summer, but didn't offer any more details.
Analysts agreed that Apple has attached great importance to China's market. Even more significant is whether Apple would sell iPhones in the Beijing stores.
Apple has been longing to export iPhones to China, but its negotiations with China Mobile haven't proceeded smoothly.
According to Gao Nianshu, general manager of the data department of China Mobile, Apple implied its wish to be the controller in the value chain during the negotiations, asking for 20-30 percent share in revenues with China Mobile, a conspicuously unacceptable amount for the latter side.
For more details, please read the full story in? Chinese. (http://www.bbtnews.com.cn/mainland/channel/40751.shtml)
(China.org.cn March 11, 2008)
