Carrier China Telecom briefly indicated that it was accepting reservations for Apple’s iPhone 5S and 5C. The message, which referenced sales of both new phones, was posted on a microblogging website and has been removed. It’s possible Apple could launch both devices in China earlier than usual, coinciding with an expected U.S. launch on Sept. 20. Apple is hosting a special event in Beijing on Sept. 11, with many speculating that carrier China Mobile will start carrying the iPhone. [via TechWeb (translated link)]
Separately, a report indicates that Japan’s NTT DoCoMo has reached an agreement with Apple to sell iPhones, breaking a long-time impasse between the companies. The issues began after minor rival Softbank secured an early exclusive on the iPhone, which then continued to erode DoCoMo’s once-dominant Japanese market share. [via Asahi Shimbun (translated link)]
