Nancy Xiao

Nancy Xiao: In America, it’s become a staple. We can’t leave the house without it, and the need to constantly stay in touch is unavoidable. Looks like we’re not the only ones tied to that little rectangle we call a cell phone.

This summer, I spent a month traveling through China-- visiting everything from the Gobi Desert to the richest cities and the poorest villages. One thing was clear: the country is hurtling without barriers towards advancements in technology, infrastructure and culture.

As I explored historical museums, universities, bars, clubs, and other hot spots, the bulk of my time was spent with the next young and tech-savvy generation. The upper class teens were treated to iPhones (jailbroken, of course) and there was a definite air of Apple fanboy syndrome floating around.

The giant Beijing Apple store sits in a prime location in Sanlitun, with neighbors like H&M, American Apparel, and other name brands. It’s an area often frequented by international students and young Chinese alike.

The middle class seemed to favor more compact cellular devices, with more language versatility and compatibility. Smartphones and touchscreens are a rare sight, and teens' phone usage mainly focused on texting and calling. The lower class carried basic go-phone type devices.

A MacBook for sale at Sam's Club in Beijing

When it came time to purchase a phone, it was a minor nightmare. There are no designated carrier stores, and it looked more like an overflooded marketplace of goods. A phone did not come with a plan, making the products over triple the price of the ones purchased in the U.S. Even a go-phone could run up to $250.

Basic Internet plans start at 5 yuan per month, coming out to less than one dollar. iPads are a popular novelty, but not as useful--customers weren’t able to utilize all of its services with the lack of Wi-Fi connections.

There was much less laptop usage among students until college rolled around. Since many Chinese have grown up using the Windows platform, the older generations found it challenging to switch over to Mac. Despite this, MacBooks are steadily gaining in popularity, although the 13-inch had a hefty pricetag of over 10,000 yuan, or nearly $1,500.

But more than anything, Apple products have become the biggest wish on Christmas lists. Ads for the iPhone 3G were plastered in airports and bus stops across the country.

As Chinese consumers begin to prefer American products over their own, their trust of Apple continuously builds. Apple's biggest challenge is being able to cater to China's cultural differences. With continuous issues cooperating with China's biggest mobile companies, Apple's safest bet is to open up as many of its own stores as possible.

Authorized resellers are constantly popping up in cities across the country, but Chinese consumers are wary of fake products. With all of the amenities and services the regular Apple store provides, the Chinese will be able to have a better grasp of the product and its many versatile uses. As Chinese consumers have grown up with Microsoft products, the switch is quite an adjustment for many and require both a large time and monetary investment.

As Apple slowly but surely attempts to settle a place in the Chinese market, the excitement and fanfare over each release only continues to grow. With Apple fanboy frenzy contagiously infecting Chinese customers, maybe Mac-inspired dating site Cupidtino should think about going international.

Nancy Xiao is a graduate of Inglemoor High School and Cascadia Community College who will be studying business at the University of Michigan. Read her blog here, and see this previous TechFlash story about her aspirations as a young entrepreneur. You can follow her on Twitter @nancychowmein.