China Mobile, the country's largest telecom carrier, will launch iPhone 5 on its network in the coming September, according to an employee with the carrier's Beijing unit.

"China Mobile will introduce iPhone 5 in September," said Liu Yang, a marketing director with Beijing Mobile, on his micro-blogging website on Thursday. Although Liu's post was deleted soon after, the news has been spread out.

China Unicom is currently Apple Inc's sole partner for the iPhone on the Chinese mainland. China Mobile users would have to switch carriers and change numbers if they want to use 3G service on iPhones.

Apples's chief operating officer Tim Cook was allegedly seen inside the China Mobile's office building with the carrier's executives. A photo was taken and has quickly been circulating online, generating further speculations whether the two companies are in talks over the introduction of iPhone on China Mobile's network.

Wang Jianzhou, China Mobile's chairman, said repeatedly that China Mobile is in talks with Apple to launch iPhone with its networks.