Chinese authorities reportedly approved the entry of Apple's iPad 3G tablet computer into the mainland's market, although no official notice was found on relevant departments' official websites Friday.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the Bureau of Radio, under China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), issued the approval December 29 for an Apple "data terminal" that supports 3G mobile technology standard Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) operated by China Unicom, bearing the serial code A1337.

Given its identical model type to the international iPad 3G, it seems highly likely the model will soon be sold inside the Chinese mainland, surpassing the Wi-Fi model currently being sold here.

Apple spokeswoman, Carolyn Wu, said Wednesday the company was planning to release the 3G iPad in the mainland but provided no time frame, according to the Wall Street Journal.

By press time, calls to Apple' corporate communications department were not returned, and Global Times reporters couldn't locate the approval on the official websites of the bureau and the MIIT.

Analysts said iPad 3G sales may not outperform the iPhone 4 in the mainland, partly because mobile operators have fewer motivations to market it.

China Unicom is selling the iPhone 4 with a two-year contract, giving users discounts on calls and on Web brows-ing.

"Actually, the profit margin is not big under the contract," Zhu Jinsong, an analyst with China Galaxy Securities Co, told the Global Times.

"The discounts on Web browsing put huge pressure on China Unicom's 3G network flow. The company adopted the promotion mainly because it wants to attract high-end mobile phone users,"he said.

"But the iPad 3G tablet is less attractive than iPhone 4 for China Unicom in a short term, since more pressure on its 3G network flow will be added without considerable revenue," Zhu added.

He Lin, an analyst with Gartner Inc, an information technology research consultancy, told the Global Times Friday that the high 3G charges that users face in the mainland might also bar the iPad 3G from dominating the tablet PC market.

"Whether iPad 3G will be well-received by mainland consumers depends largely on the fees levied by the operator," He said.

On the other hand, Wi-Fi network is still stuttering in the mainland, with only limited coverage, despite the na-tionwide WCDMA network.

Up until now, Apple's business growth in China has been effective.

"The company's first quarter revenue for the fiscal year 2011 reached $2.6 billion, a quadruple quarter-on-quarter increase," Apple's Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook was quoted by China Business News as saying Friday.

However, in recent days, Apple was in the eye of an outcry within China about the alleged treatment of workers at its subcontractors.