Almost a month after regulators delayed the license for its new smartphone, Apple started selling its iPhone 6 in China, the largest smartphone market and second-largest economy in the world, on Oct. 17, Friday, The Star Online reported.
Customer deliveries have started through the three major telecom providers and other sales channels in China. Apple's 12 retail stores in the mainland have also processed purchases from customers.
The premiere of iPhone 6 in China is just a day behind the release of Apple's new-fangled iPads in the United States in an attempt to face the steep competition in the tablet market.
On Sept. 19, Apple launched the large-screen iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in 10 countries and regions, including the United States, the United Kingdom and Monaco, but could not start selling in mainland China due to lack of a key network access license.
While the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology granted Apple permission in late September, the ministry said that it had required the company to improve personal data security before issuing the sales approval.
Because it is initially unavailable in China, the new phone was reportedly smuggled into the country.
After the security issues were solved, iPhone 6 had to then face competition challenge with South Korea's Samsung.
In the highly fragmented smartphone market in China, where less expensive phones using the Android operating system are popular, Apple only ranks sixth in purchases.
By consumer popularity, Apple has a 6.9-percent share, which is far behind leader Samsung's 15.4-percent share, according to consultancy firm Analysys International.
"I think it will sell better than the (iPhone) 5 series. This trend of a larger screen will serve better to snatch some users," Xu Hao of Analysys said.
Apple launched the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus not only in China but also in India. The two countries are the top two most populous countries in the world.
By the end of 2014, Apple is looking forward to launching its latest smartphone devices in 115 countries, Mashable said.