Android Accounts for 70% of Smartphone Sales in China

The latest smartphone sales data from Kantar Worldpanel ComTech reveals how dominant Android's lead in the Chinese smartphone market has become. More than 70 percent of smartphones sold in China between May and July were Android phones, up from 62 percent in the same period last year. Meanwhile, Apple's iPhone accounted for 22 percent of smartphone sales, a number that Apple is apparently looking to increase.

The fact that Apple is planning to release a lower-cost iPhone later this month isn't the only hint that Tim Cook and his team are increasingly focused on improving Apple's position in the world's largest smartphone market. For the first time ever, Apple is planning to host an event especially for Chinese media on September 11, just one day after the alleged iPhone event at Apple's campus in Cupertino.

Rumours have it that Apple has finally agreed terms with China's largest mobile carrier China Mobile to offer the iPhone on its network. Such a deal, in combination with a lower cost iPhone could siginficantly improve Apple's chances to compete with Samsung and local manufacturers in the highly relevant Chinese market.