Fake iPhones, 'new models' pour from China

updated 11:45 am EST, Mon February 18, 2008

Fake iPhone from China


Numerous illegal businessmen in Shenzhen, China are said to be producing counterfeit iPhones and other hot mobile devices alongside alleged 'new model' iPhones at ever increasing rates. Apple's iPhone swept onto the smartphone market after its launch in June of last year, surprising many analysts and rival phone makers alike. Chinese factories counterfeit famous and non-famous brands alike, according to the Epoch Times, and even suffer from software piracy.

The first underground factory to create a counterfeit devices specialized in making fake cellular phones, impersonating devices manufactured by China Electronic Communication Technology (CECT). That factory turned great profits, according to the report, which produced a massive expansion of other illegitimate factories producing counterfeit CECT mobile phones.

To meet iPhone demand, one underground location produces masses of fake iPhones under the CECT name, costing between $73 and $250 each.

One report even claims that workers in an industrial district in Shenzhen were moving packaged mobile phones called 'brand-sticking' phones. These devices carry the brands of what customers want at the time, with that company logo simply stuck on the handset.


by MacNN Staff


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Comments

  1. Herod

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jun 2007

    0

    this just in....

    China will be producing a counterfeit China with in the next year.

  1. Feathers

    Grizzled Veteran

    Joined: Oct 1999

    0

    do these devices work?

    Perhaps a stupid question but do these devices actually work or are they just a hunk of worthless parts? Also, how does one become an "illegal businessman"?

  1. cho

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Sep 2006

    0

    Curious

    Do these phones work exactly like genuine iPhones with multitouch etc.? If so, bravo! Good job on counterfieting the whole thing :-) Ive seen (on the internet) fake iPhones where a stylus is used and the OS merely is a poor imitation of iPHone's OS. If that's the kind of fake iPhone going around, well then, nothing special. If they're able to copy the whole thing, I would say, "AMAZING!"

  1. Mac-a-Bayan

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jul 2004

    -1

    Apple Must Advertise

    Apple is virtually unknown to most 80% here in the Phil. Here cellphones are more in demand than computers. Last year before officially arriving in the Philippines iPhone is already the buzz among young Filipinos who are not even aware of the Apple brand. Many are even assuming its from NOKIA. If Apple will not make its presence felt it will lose a lot from these counterfeit.

  1. cho

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Sep 2006

    0

    good pt

    You make a good point, mac-a-bayan. Confusing the iPhone with Nokia is not a good thing for Apple.

  1. bradystjames

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Mar 2008

    -1

    where

    can i get one of these fake ones at? would like to run some tests onit,

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