Apple iPhones could come to China Mobile Ltd. if current talks are successful Reuters reported Thursday.
According to The Wall Street Journal, a deal has already been inked based on information an individual close to the situation. Apple would be making a big jump in the world's largest arena for mobility if all goes through.
"We are still negotiating with Apple, but for now we have nothing new to announce," Rainie Lei, a spokeswoman with China Mobile told Reuters.
The iPhones would be launched at China Mobile's conference in Guangzhou, China Dec. 18 since the company does not currently offer the device.
China Mobile could see 1.5 million iPhones sold a month according to information from research group Trefis. Twenty million users are also expected to turn on the smartphone, and start using it next year.
The news comes after China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology gave 4G licenses to China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom at the beginning of the week. This has led to the company being able to offer the smartphone.
The acquisition creates the opportunity for Apple to become a part of Apple's vast list of subscribers that is seven times the size than its competitor Verizon, the most prominent mobile company size wise.
China Mobile and Apple have discussed joining forces to offer products over the years. Apple was hesitant to bring its iPhone product to the mobile carrier's 3G system.
The iPhone 5C is $100 less expensive than the premium 5S with an initial price at $649 for the 16 gigabyte model.
Apple predicts it will sell 33 million to 36 million new iPhones during the fourth fiscal quarter also known as the holiday quarter in a projection that could top 50 million.
The company's next device, due out in the second fiscal quarter of 2014 is expected to have a 4.8 inch display, 0.8 larger.
