China Unicom has an exclusive with Apple. Currently a lot of revenue is being used to build a better system for new I-phones. Chinese workers are starting to receive better pay, and Zhejiang Provence (the most prosperous) has just raised the minimum wage to 1360RMB.
I currently use China Mobile but am a stock holder in China Unicom. I cannot get a China Unicom I-phone due to demand, I am on a wait list and will be back in USA before I get one.