Apple imposes new limits on iPhone sales

[RubberBand Man]

Company no longer accepts cash, restricts sales to two per person. Read more http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21496309/wid/11915829?GT1=10450

[Utech22]

yes.... the chistmas must have gadget...

[Nestersan]

Steve jobs on crack..trying to play PS3 on the market..poor fella

[zRo ToLeRaNcE]

Another source
http://techdirt.com/articles/20071029/005743.shtml


With reports of huge numbers of iPhones being purchased to be unlocked and resold, it looks like Apple trying to clamp down a bit on the process by changing the rules for purchasers: requiring credit cards for purchases and limiting order to only 2 iPhones at a time. This is similar to what the original "launch day" limitations were. The credit cards let Apple track purchases more carefully (though, you have to wonder what good that really does) and the two person limit makes life harder for unlocker/resellers -- but also makes it more likely that parents will be able to pick up iPhones for their kids this holiday season. As for whether or not it's legal to turn down someone handing over the requisite amount of cash, we'll just let the US Treasury Department explain that it's perfectly fine. The whole "legal tender" bit doesn't mean anyone has to accept your cash.

A bigger question, though, is why Apple would bother? The resellers are likely to figure out ways around these limitations anyway, and it just seems more likely to cause problems for legitimate purchasers (especially younger ones who might not have a credit card yet). And, while it is true that Apple makes money from every iPhone with AT&T service, it's silly to completely shut off unlockers, who still are giving Apple plenty of money that they might not hand over if they were forced to go with AT&T service (especially those from foreign countries where iPhone service is not offered). This really seems like an unnecessary restriction that isn't likely to help Apple very much.

[crac16]

That mean less phones to sell out here. Soon find a way round dat.

[mjj4363]

That mean less phones to sell out here. Soon find a way round dat.

true, less in JA now.


I really hate Apple for all of these restrictions!

but they (the sellers and buyers) can always find a way around the new restrictions.

[Virus]

Well become an authorized seller and continue with business. But is this necessary, they've already said unlocked iphones for france..?

[Yung_Jah]

Apple going on with foolishness nowadays. At first, they created an update to block out people who unlocked the phone to work on another network.

Now, they are doing some form of restriction about purchasing with credit card. Thats madness. I think they want to know people credit card number and rob them of millions of dollars.

Adding to that, there won't be much sales forthe iPhone when Apple does this. As a result, it will be a bad picture for the company....NOT making enough money.

[techdude]

First lock it to 1 network for use, then an update to brick it if unlocked. Now only can buy two per person:thumbsdown:... Where does the restriction ends?:eusa_thin
What next, report to the apple store for regular check ups?
Well there is the sayin: where there is a will there is a way.

[Virus]

From what i hear Wozniak is telling Apple to loosen up. He's actually for the hackers/ 3rd party developers

[jamaicakevkev]

some of us real good, yes the iphone is great product, but how many hoops you going to jump through to try and get an unlocked iphone. I remember years a go a friend of mine had a special circuit board that he bought online hooked up to a computer running 24 hours aday connected to his dss access card for his dish, for the purpose of catching and blocking codes sent from the satellite company to turn off his access card, I mean like daaaammmn how much are we willing to go through to access certain technology.

In a side note apple not going to loosen up since they getting like 18 bucks usd a month from carriers for each Iphone activated on approved networks.

[renkin]

virus, you make a valid point. however, the issue is that the iPhone we'd be interested in re-selling would be the US version so even becoming authorized from Apple wouldn't work as the phone must not be for export.
another problem is that Apple requires about US$100,000 per year buying commitment from authorized re-sellers which is a little steep for most of us.
but like everyone says...."where there is a will, there is a way..."