China has a way of alienating the rest of the world. Instead of using the standard protocol for wireless networks like the rest of the western world is using, it decided to develop its own. But its not stopping Apple from going into one of the world’s largest consumer market. Apple appears to have tweaked its iPhone to support a Chinese security protocol for wireless networks, as companies increasingly adopt Chinese government-backed technologies to break into the country’s huge market.

This would mean that Apple may soon launch a new version of the iPhone for China supporting its Wi-Fi protocol, a feature that regulations previously barred.

When Apple entered the Chinese market, it removed its Wi-Fi support due to regulations that WLAN support on phones should conform to the homegrown Chinese security protocol called WAPI. The new Apple phone does support WAPI, according to the Chinese regulatory site. If an iPhone with WAPI goes on sale, Apple would be one of the highest-profile companies to offer a device using the protocol. The new Apple phone may also support standard Wi-Fi. The Chinese security protocol is an alternative for just part of Wi-Fi, and devices can support both it and the technology it is meant to replace.

China has promoted the protocol, along with other homegrown technologies like the 3G standard TD-SCDMA, as part of a vision to produce more of its own technology and have it adopted by international companies.

Dell is another company that has added WAPI to devices for China. Its latest device to support the protocol, a previously unknown TD-SCDMA mobile phone called the Mini 3v, was also cleared last month to use its frequency range, according to the Chinese monitoring center.

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Apple Tweaks iPhone Wifi for Chinese Market