Friday Apple Rumors: China Mobile iPad Deal Expected Soon

by Christopher Freeburn | December 6, 2013 12:20 pm

daily apple rumors AAPL[1]Here are your Apple rumors[2] and AAPL news items for today:

Follow-up: With a deal to bring Apple’s (AAPL[3]) iPhones to the world’s largest wireless carrier apparently concluded, one analyst says a similar deal for the iPad will likely come shortly[4], AppleInsider notes. Deutsche Bank (DB[5]) analyst Chris Whitmore expects Apple to sell about 20 million iPhones through China Mobile during the first year after the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c are offered on its network. He calls adding the iPad to China Mobile a “logical next step” that could give Apple’s tablet sales a similar boost in China. An official announcement that China Mobile will offer the iPhone is expected this month, possibly as early as Dec. 18 at a media event heralding the launch of the carrier’s new 4G/LTE network. Deals between Apple and carriers covering iPad sales usually come after agreements to carry the iPhone.

Tracking: Shoppers at Apple’s retail stores will be able to get guidance from their iPhones as they move through the locations[6], the Associated Press notes. The technology giant is rolling out iBeacon, an app that will permit iPhones to use GPS data to direct customers to the closest Apple Store and then help them navigate the outlet once inside. The app will also notify users about promotions and special events while they are in the store. Users must provide permission for the app to track their movements. Apple has installed iBeacon transmitters, which use Bluetooth to determine users’ precise locations inside the stores, in 254 of its stores across the U.S.

Additional Demand: Not only will Samsung have to pay damages for violating Apple patents, it may also have to pay the iPhone-maker’s legal fees[7], the Mercury News notes. Apple has submitted a claim for $22 million in legal fees it says Samsung is liable for under federal trademark laws. The hefty bill includes $16 million in attorney fees and another $6 million in other costs, including copying materials used for the trial. Last year, Apple was awarded $1 billion in damages by a California jury. A U.S. District Court judge later cut the award to $600 million and ordered a new trial to determine additional damages. A second jury awarded the iPhone-maker $290 million in additional damages. Apple’s request for legal fees will be reviewed by the judge next month. Samsung will likely appeal the latest award. The two companies will be back in court next year for a new round of patent infringement litigation involving other devices.

For more about the company, check out our previous Apple Rumors[8] stories.

Endnotes:

  1. [Image]: https://investorplace.com/hot-topics/apple/#.UqIGc5G1Kf3
  2. Apple rumors: https://investorplace.com/search/?q=Apple+Rumors&searchsubmit=Search
  3. AAPL: http://studio-5.financialcontent.com/investplace/quote?Symbol=AAPL
  4. says a similar deal for the iPad will likely come shortly: http://appleinsider.com/articles/13/12/05/ipad-agreement-between-apple-china-mobile-predicted-to-follow-iphone-launch
  5. DB: http://studio-5.financialcontent.com/investplace/quote?Symbol=DB
  6. as they move through the locations: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_TEC_APPLE_IN_STORE_LOCATION?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
  7. may also have to pay the iPhone-maker’s legal fees: http://www.mercurynews.com/crime-courts/ci_24669575/apple-v-samsung-apple-asks-samsung-pay-22
  8. Apple Rumors: https://investorplace.com/2012/04/hot-topics/apple-rumors-stock-news/

Source URL: https://investorplace.com/2013/12/friday-apple-rumors-china-mobile-ipad-deal-expected-soon/