Apple to open first store in Beijing

By Zhu Shenshen  |   2008-6-28  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

APPLE Inc will open its first directly-operated retail store on the Chinese mainland in Beijing this summer to attract more consumers.

Apple's new store will open in the capital's chic Sanlitun area in the summer, Apple China said on its Website yesterday.

Apple will open the three-story store on July 19 and open a second outlet in Beijing during the Olympics, an industry source, who declined to be identified, said.

Apple China, however, declined to reveal further details of the store's opening.

One difference between the Apple-owned stores and those reselling Apple products is that consumers can avail themselves of a free one-to-one training and technical support, Apple China said.

The new stores will help Apple to penetrate the China market, the No. 1 phone market and the No. 2 personal computer market globally, industry insiders said.

Apple will sell its products and services at its Website's recommended retail price in the stores. Previously, some Apple China's resellers sold them at higher prices.

Apple will probably launch the iPhone in the Chinese mainland by the end of this year, Chief Executive Steve Jobs said recently.

"I think you'll see those later (in China and Russia) this year," Jobs said during a CNBC interview.

Apple will launch the 2G iPhone in the Chinese mainland first because the 3G networks won't be ready in time, said Sandy Shen, Gartner Inc's analyst based in Shanghai.

Apple will launch the 3G iPhone in Hong Kong and Macau on July 11.