Apple’s Beijing iPhone launch event adds fuel to the fire

Between quicker China launches and expanding retail outlets, Apple Inc.AAPL -0.69% has taken a number of steps over the past two years to focus on China, now the world’s largest smartphone market.  The most recent of these steps is giving the country its own iPhone launch event.

On Sept. 10, when Apple executives in the U.S. will introduce the company’s newest line of iPhones, Apple will also host an event in the Chinese capital, Beijing. The announcement, which was sent in recent days to Chinese journalists has fed speculation that the company will be making a major announcement for the China market, with most pointing to rumors of potential cooperation between Apple and China’s largest mobile carrier, China Mobile Ltd.