Apple To Restrict Sales Of iPhone To Two Per Customer!

30/10/07

With the European release of the iconic iPhone fast approaching, and recent news that some 250,000 of the 1.4 million handsets already sold have been unlocked from AT&T’s US-exclusive carrier contract, California-based Apple Inc. has this week moved to restrict the potential for resellers to cash in on the sexy touch-screen device.

More pointedly, a related Associated Press report reveals that Apple is limiting eager consumers to two purchases when the iPhone hits the European markets of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom next month. Furthermore, in order to monitor and digitally enforce that standpoint – which will also help maintain available stock during the busy holiday period – official iPhone sellers will only accept payment via credit card.

"Customer response has been off the charts," enthused Alan Hely, a spokeman for Apple. "Limiting iPhone sales helps us ensure that there are enough iPhones for people who are shopping for themselves or buying a gift," he added.

Prior to this new retail restriction, which came into play on Thursday, October 25, prospective European customers were able to buy up to five units of the iPhone, and cash payment was also willingly accepted too. The move to reduce purchases from five units to two mirrors the restriction originally placed on customers in the U.S. when the iPhone launched there on June 29 of this year.

It’s also likely that the resulting paper trail left by an enforced credit-card only purchasing tactic might also dissuade certain European customers looking to sidestep the handset’s exclusive regional carriers Currently it is unclear how long the ‘no cash’ and ‘only two units’ restriction will last, although most commentators are offering that it may only be for the initial launch and Christmas period.