Apple iPhone 6 to Go on Sale in China on October 17 (Updated)

Apple’s iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus will go on sale in China on Oct. 17 after it was approved for the Chinese market, less than two weeks after its introduction in the United States and other global markets.

The maker of the iPhone and iPad announced the availability on Tuesday. Preorders will begin on Oct. 10 and it will be available on China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom.

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology posted an update on its website, saying that it had licensed the device for use on China’s wireless networks. Reuters reported the news of the posting.

Prices for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus on the black market in China have plummeted in anticipation of the imminent approval.

Apple sold a record 10 million iPhones 6 on its introductory weekend, though industry analysts noted that China, the world’s largest smartphone market, was absent from the initial launch.

Prices for the iPhone 6 start at 5,288 yuan (US $860.35). The iPhone 6 Plus price begins at 6,088 yuan (US $990.46).

Observers had expected China to issue a license before National Day celebrations on Oct. 1, known locally as “Golden Week.”

Update: Apple announces China on sale date.

This article originally appeared on Recode.net.

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