BEIJING (Dow Jones)--China Unicom (Hong Kong) Ltd. (CHU) is working with Apple Inc. (AAPL) on introducing the iPhone with WiFi functions to China as soon as possible, China Unicom Chief Executive Chang Xiaobing said Saturday, without giving a more specific timetable.

Meeting with reporters on the sidelines of the National People's Congress, Chang added that if the company releases a WiFi-enabled iPhone, it will consider compensating current users who lack the function by allowing greater use of the company's third-generation network.

Government regulations had forced Unicom to launch the iconic smartphone in China without WiFi, but newly revised regulations now make it possible. WiFi allows users to browse the web via a standard wireless Internet connection, rather than through an operator's 3G network, thus potentially saving money on usage fees.