iPhone Air orders in China may be delayed due to eSIM issue

The article discusses a potential delay in the launch of Apple's iPhone Air in China due to regulations surrounding its eSIM-only nature. The key points are: 1. Apple's mainland China website has updated the release information for the iPhone Air, stating that details will be provided later, instead of the previously announced pre-order start date of September 19. 2. The Beijing branch of China Telecom has removed a post announcing the launch of its eSIM service this month, which was expected to support the iPhone Air. 3. The iPhone Air is Apple's first model without a physical SIM card, relying solely on an eSIM. This poses a challenge in China, where customers typically link their identity to a cellular phone through a SIM card. 4. For the iPhone Air, customers in China will need to appear in person at a retail store to get the eSIM approved, which is a departure from the usual SIM card setup. 5. The delay is due to the eSIM-only nature of the iPhone Air and the need for regulatory approval from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in China.