US high-tech computer concern Apple has announced plans to launch the popular iPhone in China, the world's largest mobile market.

Apple has made a multi-year deal with mobile operator China Unicom, which has 140 million clients among China's some 650 million users. The launch of the iPhone is expected to take place in the fourth quarter of this year.

China Unicom aims to attract high-end users with the iPhone to turn around weak performances in competition with rivals China Mobile - which has about 490 million subscribers - and China Telecom. The iPhones will not have wireless internet capacity, as the Chinese government opposes phones equipped with Wi-Fi for fear of loss of revenue from state-owned companies.