14 DAY TRIAL // It looks like Apple is fighting the flood of iPhone unlocks in more ways than one. Besides bricking unlocked devices with firmware updates, the company is also attempting to stop the problem by limiting the amount of iPhones that it is willing to sell to any given customer.
It doesn't make sense for a company to refuse to sell its products to people that want to buy them, but that is apparently exactly what Apple is doing. TUAW reports that they have received word from Apple customers who have had iPhone orders canceled by the company, because they are buying too much. It seems that customers who make large, repeated iPhone orders are receiving e-mails informing them that their orders have been automatically canceled. Some users even report being turned down by the Apple Retail Stores, because of having purchased too many iPhones.
"It appears that your recent Apple Store order is for products intended for resale. While Apple appreciates your company's support of Apple's technology and products, the Apple Store you placed this order with sells products to end-user customers only, and the order has therefore been cancelled. You may wish to review the Sales and Refunds Policy," reads the e-mail several buyers received.
It is suspected that Apple's reseller program comes with a long list of limitations and obligations, amongst which unlocking the device is mentioned. This refusal to sell seems aimed directly at those customers who buy a large number of iPhones with the intention of unlocking them and then selling the devices on markets where they are unavailable from Apple for a hefty profit.
While this undoubtedly makes massive purchases of iPhones more difficult it will not stop iPhone unlockers from what they are doing, only make it a bit more difficult for them to get their hands on the coveted handsets.