Apple launches Apple Music, iTunes Movies and iBooks in China
Yesterday, Apple moved further into the Chinese market with the launch of Apple Music, iTunes Movies and iBooks in the Asian nation. Apple has made this decision after analysts estimated that in its first weekend of sales the new Apple iPhone reached between 3m and 4m units. Apple have recognised China's growing middle class and rising income levels, which present huge opportunities for the tech giant. According to analysts at Bernstein, iPhones were affordable to 30% of the population in 2012, by 2019 that figure is expected to rise to 60% which creates a massive market for Apple. 

Enthusiasm in China drove sales of Apple’s latest iPhone to a record 13m units last weekend, topping last year’s record of 10m, when the manufacturer’s popular phone was held up in China by regulators. Analysts put sales in China at between 3m and 4m units, leaving sales elsewhere essentially flat year-over-year.

My initial estimates were China could add 3-4 million units to iPhone launch sales and I think that was about right. — Ben Bajarin (@BenBajarin) September 28, 2015

The company allowed 16 days for its presale period (last year it gave itself 10) and the phone officially went on sale 25 September. It will continue to roll out around the world through October.

“Sales for iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus have been phenomenal, blowing past any previous first weekend sales results in Apple’s history,” wrote Apple CEO Tim Cook, in a press release.

The devices’ success is a testament to the reliability of Apple’s user base, said Ramon Llamas, a mobile market analyst for International Data Corporation (IDC).

“The fact that this is an S version and not a whole new body type version speaks to how much clout Apple has with end-users out there,” Llamas said. “People usually wait for the new version, but there’s a sizable number that says: ‘No, we’d rather have the incremental version and move forward.’”



The popularity of the devices is also likely to make for greater Apple Watch adoption, Llamas said – or at least to remove a barrier to Apple Watch adoption, since the watch only works with iOS devices.

The phone’s major upgrades include what Apple is calling 3D touch, in which the touchscreen responds not solely to touch but to pressure, as well, and the standard camera megapixel and processor improvements. Llamas said he expects to see the “home” button disappear before long.