Chinese ‘rip-off’ iPhones widely available due to ‘black hat’ innovation.
By Ross O. Storey
31 Aug 2009
When wandering around my favourite computers and gadgets complex in Singapore yesterday, I had cause to again ponder the amazing skill that manufacturers in China have in copying western technology.
On open display at one store was an apparent iPhone and when I inquired about the price, a cheerful salesman told me just SG$195. “But iPhones generally retail about SG$1,000,” I told the young salesperson. “Why is this one so cheap.” He replied: ‘It’s a Chinese iPhone he said proudly, and can do everything that a branded iPhone can do, except use iTunes. It can even receive mobile TV.”
I was on a quest to buy an Apple iTouch after several friends demonstrated to me the amazing diversity of this ‘must have’ digital toy. I have a Blackberry Bold, and do not want to give it up by buying an iPhone. I figure that I can have the best of both worlds by getting an iTouch, without having to bother with second phone accounts etc.
Now, if you are an avid reader of this web portal - here at www.mis-asia.com - you will know that ‘knock off’ or copy Chinese copy phones – including the iPhone and the Nokia N97 - now openly on sale at street markets and even major shopping malls in China, are known as ‘shanzhai’ which translates as ‘bandit’ phones.
‘Jailbroken’ iPhones
Although Apple only announced last week that it plans to see 3GS iPhones in China, the Chinese copies have apparently been on sale for months. When the original iPhones go on sale in communist China, they will be without WiFi, but the population apparently can easily get around this. According to our correspondents, there are already more 1.5 million iPhones in China, which are ‘jailbroken’, that is, unlocked to work with any of the country's wireless carriers.
It seems that Chinese end-users are just as smart in dodging the rules as Chinese manufacturers. No wonder the central Chinese government spends so much energy on attempting to keep the massive 1.3 billion population under control.
A statement from a tech vendor during a recent MIS Asia magazine event presentation comes to mind – he said: “The pace of growth and change in technology has long since outpaced the ability to properly control it”.
Phones with cigarette lighters?
Our correspondents report that some shanzhai phone vendors have gone on to design and market handsets licensed through the official regulatory process. Chinese manufacturers have also innovated at times, adding such things as dual-SIM card slots, extra-loud speakers and even built-in cigarette lighters. Why not shavers, TV remote controls and laser pointers? Or compasses (I think this might have already been done), pocket knives and tape measures? Perhaps the legitimate smartphone manufacturers should take note.
Mysterious arrival
What surprised me here in Singapore, however, was that these shanzai phones have already made there way here - to this supposedly ‘squeeky clean’ country - are openly on sale. How did they get in? They must have been smuggled, or deceptively labeled. And, judging by the number of imitation iPhones on display in my favourite gadget centre, they’ve been here a while. If they are in Singapore, you can bet they are also in Malaysia, Indonesia and elsewhere. It seems the black market always keeps several steps ahead of the commercial world.
I recall reading reports that some iPhones in Europe have allegedly had their batteries mysteriously ‘explode’ and it would not surprise me if these turned out to be shanzai phones that have made their way to the western world too.
Of course, China has been a manufacturing guru for centuries. It was them who invented paper, the compass, kites and gunpowder. It’s no wonder they are still very innovative, but I wonder why so much energy is spent on copying other people’s designs. I suppose the answer is that they are riding on the back of all the billions spend in research and development and marketing of the original products.
Original Chinese products
To be fair, my favourite digital marketplace also had plenty of original Chinese products, including mp4 players, digital slates and translation software.
However, if Chinese designers and manufacturers turned all that creativity towards producing their own patented devices, who knows what legitimate breakthroughs and gadgets we might see. But, just as I wonder why so many clever technical people decide to create viruses and other digital nasties, instead of legally capitalizing on their skills, I suppose human nature makes it inevitable that good, successful products will always be copied. After all, they do say that ‘imitation is the best form of flattery’.
Ross O. Storey, currently the Managing Editor of Fairfax Business Media Asia, is responsible for the editorial content and production of MIS Asia, CIO Asia, Computerworld Singapore and Computerworld Malaysia magazines.
