China approves iPhone 6 after Apple promises no "backdoors"; Apple says sales start Oct. 17

China's phone regulator has approved the iPhone 6 for sale after Apple Inc. promised never to allow other governments access to users' information.

Tuesday's announcement reflected Chinese unease about the reliability of foreign communications technology following disclosures about widespread U.S. government eavesdropping.

Apple said the phones will go on sale Oct. 17 in China, one of the company's biggest global markets.

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said approval was granted after Apple, "promised 'it never constructed a so-called 'backdoor' for any government entity of any country in any product or service,' and moreover 'never will.' "