If there is still hope for a near-term (2009/10) iPhone deal with China Mobile, then it would most likely be for an EDGE 2G only version of iPhone (NOT TD-SCDMA).

No matter the future of TD-SCDMA, China Mobile will maintain their EDGE 2G network, which has broad coverage and a clear signal throughout major urban zones in China. In my view EDGE 2G could be the bridge between Apple and China Mobile. There are hundreds of millions of low-salaried wireless consumers in China who aspire to iPhone. Many have in fact already purchased cheap Shanzhai (iClone) knock-offs. But Shanzhai iPhones are not reliable and quickly become landfill. A low-priced “real” Apple iPhone running EDGE 2G only, might sell by the tens of millions.

More background > http://iphonasia.com/?p=5762

<> Uhm, yeah! Duh! BTW, it's useless to compare pay-as-you go numbers when Shaw should be comparing actual postpaid subscriber figures.

<> Shaw makes it sound as if the carriers CHOSE their protocols. They did not. The Chinese Ministry that controls this part of industry assigned the TDSCDMA to China Mobile and WCDMA to Unicom.

<> What? He heard this? This is public information not some insider stuff. Yes, HK's Hutchinson Telecom sells unsubsidized iPhones in HK.

<> This is just embarassing. With a name like Shaw Wu, you'd think the guy has never been to China. Yes, the Chinese are more used to paying more since they buy unsubsidized handsets. I believe I read that up to 25% of Chinese handsets are sold at around $500.

Honestly, I was shocked at the prices when I went into a China Mobile store when I've been to China. I expected cheap prices, but found unsubsidized ones.

Cellphones in China are their do-it-all device. They don't buy laptops to use with LANs or wifi, they buy cellphones. A smartphone that can email, text msg, play music, surf the internet is a real winner.