After the third round of negotiation broke down with China Mobile, Apple is now in talks with the second largest network provider China Unicom to launch the iPhone. If the negotiation between China Unicom and Apple is successful, analysts said the iPhone would be available as early as May 2009.

China Unicom has one hundred thirty million subscribers and would be rolling out it’s 3G network based on the WCDMA standard used in the iPhone. China Mobile on the other hand would be rolling out its 3G network based on the homegrown TD-SCDMA.

For China Unicom, the launch of the iPhone would be a great chance to woo more subcribers. At present, China mobile has almost triple number of subscribers.

China Unicom’s Manager confirmed that they are in talks with Apple to bring the iPhone to China.

Though neither of the parties have commented in detail, there is a possibility that the launch could be scheduled along with China Unicom’s 3G network launch on May 17, 2009. Other specks of the negotiation would be available soon.