China Unicom getting the iPhone 3G in August?

Apple seems to be close to a deal to bring the iPhone 3G to China. After talks with China Mobile fell through, many were not very optimistic about the iPhone’s future in China, but reports show that Apple may have resumed talks about a Chinese iPhone deal—only this time with the smaller China Unicom. Despite the optimism that all signs point to a Chinese iPhone, China Unicom execs emphatically deny any talks whatsoever.

“This rumored cooperation is nonsense,” an unnamed Unicom executive told Trading Markets. “The company will not approach Apple at this moment when the nation’s telecoms regrouping has not come to an end, let alone discuss about the iPhone deal. Because it is not clear which 3G wireless license China Unicom will get after the reshuffle.”

Although chances are high that China will get the iPhone 3G by year’s end, chances that they will actually be able to utilize the 3G functionality in the near future are close to zero. There is currently no 3G network in China, and plans to implement one are in the very early stages of development.

It is definitely in Apple’s best interest from a sales standpoint to try as hard as they can to bring the iPhone 3G to China, as over 400,000 iPhones have been purchased outside of China, unlocked, and smuggled into the country.

Via [9 to 5 Mac]