Sept. 12 (UPI) — Apple is postponing the release of the latest version of its iPhone in China over regulatory issues related to the company’s eSIM, a digital version of a traditional SIM card used in wireless phones.
China’s three large telecom companies have yet to obtain the necessary approval from the country’s government to sell devices using the eSIM technology.
Apple China’s website has a message that says “release information will be updated later,” for the new iPhone Air.
The California-based tech giant announced this week it would start selling the ultra-thin iPhone Air, as well as the new iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models, on Sept. 19.
Global pre-orders for the devices began Friday.
The iPhone 17 uses the traditional, physical SIM card that can be removed from the device.
The iPhone Air does not contain the chip, with the eSIM built into the phone.
“It’s eSIM only, and so we were able to take the battery and extend the battery to areas that previously had the physical cell,” Apple CEO Tim Cook said Friday during an interview with CNBC.
The iPhone Air is the company’s thinnest so far, coming in at 0.22 inches.
The base model of the phones is expected to retail for $799.
