China Telecom (CHA) Could Carry Apple's (AAPL) iPhone Before Year End

Apple's (Nasdaq: AAPL) mobile device, the iPhone, is expected to get quite the boost.

According to sources, China Telecom (NYSE: CHA) is expected to offer the iPhone to its 106 million customers before the end of 2011.

Currently, China Unicom (NYSE: CHU) is the only operator in the world's largest mobile market to carry Apple's wunderkind device.

The move won't just be a boon for Apple however; China Telecom is only the third largest mobile operator in China, behind China Unicom and China Mobile (NYSE: CHL). Apple's iPhone will help Telecom to grab more of the 3G market as it continues to expand in China.

Telecom already operates the largest fixed-line communications network in China, but is a relative newcomer to the mobile market, according to Reuters.

Bringing the iPhone to Telecom's network wouldn't be an immediate boost to earnings as Apple's current agreement with China Unicom isn't a revenue-sharing scheme.

China Telecom shares are flat pre-market, while Apple is up about 0.7 percent.

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