Chinese mainland's biggest apple store opens

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Apple Inc. (AAPL) is opening stores in the China region at a quarter the pace it forecast 19 months ago, giving rival makers of smartphones and tablet computers time to gain users in the worlds biggest mobile-phone market.

Apple opened its third store in Shanghai today and will open its first one in Hong Kong tomorrow, bringing the total to six in a region with the companys highest-grossing outlets. That compares with the 25 stores that Ron Johnson, then Apples head of retail, said last year it targeted by February 2012.

Apple employees stand outside the company's new store in Nanjing Road during its opening in
Shanghai September 23, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

The iPhone maker is only scratching the surface of Chinese demand after sales in the region surged six-fold to $3.8 billion last quarter, Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook said in July. Still, delays in store openings may give makers of smartphones and tablets equipped with Google Inc. (GOOG)s Android software room to gain market share, said Shaun Rein, managing director of China Market Research Group.

In many ways they are still behind the curve, and they are opening stores too slowly, said Rein, whose Shanghai-based company advises retailers and other clients about operating businesses in China. Before, Apple had clear dominance in terms of technology, but now the gap is being lowered because of Android.

Apple is expanding distributio! n of its products including the iPhone and iPad in China as competition with Android device makers including Samsung Electronics Co. and Lenovo Group Ltd. (992) intensifies. Kristin Huguet, a spokeswoman at Apple, declined to give the companys latest target for store openings in China.

People attend the inauguration of the new Apple store in Nanjing Road, downtown Shanghai, September 23, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

Apple employees celebrate inside the company's new store in Nanjing Road during its opening
in Shanghai September 23, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]



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