In China, the Apple iPhone touches you. That's what we can gather after hearing about the business intelligence and consulting firm Pearl Research's recent study, which suggests that the market with 565 million mobile phone users and trend-conscious consumers could potentially be a big venue of success for Apple's gizmo.

Through an online survey with 450 participants and 24 in-depth one-on-one interviews, research found out that it's very possible for Apple to penetrate the Chinese market.

A good 68% have heard of the iPhone, and there are enough reasons to pick one up. Most females are likely to adopt the gadget for trendiness and design, while males want it for utility.

On the other hand, iPhone's promise of mobile Internet was shrugged off since most users admitted that wireless Internet services of carriers are expensive. Some 88% of iPod owners are still willing to acquire the Apple product, but the study sees it as a problem for Apple to interest those beyond that group.

Another reason why the iPhone may find it hard to dominate China is the abundance of copycat or fake phones. While iPhone's US$ 500 price tag can intimidate consumers, cheaper alternatives that go for US$ 200 to 300 are more attractive.