According to a report by MICGadget tonight, Apple’s Chief Operating Officer has been spotted in the lobby of China Mobile’s headquarters earlier today. The news arrives via a reporter from Chinese news publication First Financial Daily, who also shot the above photo of what they claim is the back of Tim Cook’s head.

We know, sketchy right?

This morning, around 10, Apple COO Tim Cook is spotted in the lobby of China Mobile’s HQ, accompanied by 7-8 people. Probably Cook is talking with executives from China Mobile to discuss bilateral cooperation for the iPhone. Both China and America flags are seen in the lobby, and Cook seems to be happy.

But, here’s why this is significant. If true, Apple visiting China Mobile – consequentially one of the largest mobile operators in China with 600 Million subscribers to date – could mean the iPhone may be heading to the network. China Mobile has expressed huge interest in carrying the device in the past, but Apple, (for whatever reason), has not provided the hardware which is capable of connecting to its TD-SCDMA network.

The sighting follows a report back in March, in which China Mobile Chairman, Wang Jianzhou, claimed Steve himself had expressed interest in the network in regards to the launch of an upcoming, LTE-compatible iPhone.

Jobs has expressed his interest in an LTE iPhone and is willing to start the development at an early date,” Jianzhou said outside of a Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference meeting in Beijing, according to Bloomberg.

[via MacRumors]