The long-awaited deal between Apple Inc and China Mobile Ltd might be announced soon, after China Mobile's Chairman Xi Guohua said that both sides have shown "a positive attitude" in the ongoing talks to launch an iPhone that can run on China Mobile's network.

Xi declined to provide details because nothing has been finalized, but said he is optimistic and will make a public announcement once a deal is reached.

China Mobile has failed to reach a deal with Apple partly because the US company refused to redesign its iPhone so that it can work on China Mobile's self-developed TD-SCDMA 3G networks.