The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday the iPhone's launch in China was forthcoming. As reported, the Chinese version of the iPhone will, at least initially, be stripped of its Wi-Fi wireless Internet capability to comply with government rules.

Unicom, which had 141 million wireless users at the end of July, hopes the iPhone will attract high-spending customers who will boost its earnings and give it a leg up on dominant carrier China Mobile Ltd., which has more than triple Unicom's subscriber base. The iPhone deal comes alongside Unicom's rollout of a "third-generation," or 3G, network that will enable functions like wireless video and high-speed surfing. Unicom's 3G network is the only one among three in China that is currently technologically compatible with the iPhone.
Meanwhile, several devices running Google Inc.'s Android operating system are also expected to hit the market by the end of the year, including at least one by Taiwanese phone maker HTC Corp.