iPhone approved for sale on mainland

Apple will sell its new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in China this month after agreeing to improve user security and privacy.

The devices will go on sale on Oct 17, the company said after China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology granted the smartphones a network access permit, the final step in the approval process. Pre-orders will start on Oct 10, and the phones will be available at all three major carriers.

The approval process included discussions on potential leaks of personal data through weaknesses in Apple's operating system, with the company taking measures in iOS 8 to eliminate risks stemming from three background diagnostic tools, the ministry said.