Apple’s new iPhone Air will launch in China next month, available only through China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom business outlets as a contract device, with no version compatible across all three carriers. Currently, its key feature — eSIM (embedded Subscriber Identity Module) technology — may not support free switching between carriers. The move may be intended to reduce operational risks associated with mobile number portability, which allows users to keep their phone numbers when switching carriers. Meanwhile, major Chinese smartphone makers are also testing eSIM functionality on their flagship models, though a full-scale rollout still awaits regulatory approval. [TechNode reporting]
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