Apple seen wrapping up China Mobile deal by end of the year

Getting its devices on the world’s largest mobile carrier is crucial to Apple’s plan to tackle emerging markets and now one analyst is predicting that Apple will strike a deal with China Mobile to carry the iPhone by the end of the year. StreetInsider points us to a new research note written by UBS analyst Steven Milunovich, who sees Apple having the opportunity to snag “at least one-third [of China Mobile’s] total 3G subscriber base or over 100 million users” when it finally gets a deal with the carrier done. Milunovich’s bullish analysis of Apple’s China prospects comes after Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty estimated this week that getting a deal done with China Mobile to carry the iPhone 5C could help Apple become the No. 1 smartphone vendor in the country.