Sales of Apple's iPhone could surpass 25 million in China this year and soar past 35 million in 2013 according to predictions from Deutsche Bank's Christ Whitmore.
Apple's handset sold upwards of 6 million devices in the first quarter of 2012, but Whitmore believes that the iPhone is "just getting started in China."
Whitmore expects Apple's two carrier partners - China Telecom and China Unicom - to end up serving 300 million 3G subscribers by the end of 2013.
That's a potential userbase for Apple that could rise to 425 million if China Mobile is also brought on board as a partner.
Growth in the east
Benefiting from a growth in 3G subscribers from China Telecom and China Unicorn, Whitmore estimates Apple will be able to secure 20-25 percent of the market.
That would equate to 35 million iPhone sold in China by the end of 2013.
Though not an official carrier, China Mobile already has 15 million iPhone users on its network, but said userbase is locked out from achieving good 3G wireless speeds due to incompatible networks.
Super six
In comparison, Samsung currently holds a dominant 28 percent share of the market, followed by Nokie, Huawei, and ZTE. Apple currently lies in fifth place with nine percent.
It's claimed that could all change, however, if Apple strikes up a deal with China Mobile and readies the launch of sixth-generation iPhone.
"We believe the iPhone is extremely well positioned to capture the tremendous growth in China and long-term opportunity for the iPhone in this market is substantial," said Whitmore in a talk with investors.
In January 2012, Morgan Stanley pegged the iPhone to reach 40 million sales in China by the end of 2013.
[source: Apple Insider]
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