The on again-off again talks between China Mobile and Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) to bring the iPhone to the world’s most populous mobile phone market are off again. After months of rumours that the two companies were in discussions, and news that talks had stalled in November, China Mobile announced today that they had “terminated” negotiations with the Cupertino-based company.

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No official reason was given, but Bloomberg cited news site Sina.com which quoted China Mobile’s director of data services Gao Nianshu as saying that the carrier wasn’t prepared to hand over the 20 to 30 percent revenue share fees that Apple wanted for bringing in iPhone customers. Johnny Yeah, an analyst at Hong Kong research called the breakdown bad news for Apple because of China Mobile’s massive user base. The operator is the largest in China and has nearly 350 million subscribers. Yeah noted,  “Apple entering China without China Mobile won’t be as substantial.’”

Sina.com said the companies would meet for another round of talks, but China Mobile’s spokesperson said she was unaware of any future meetings.