Illegal Singapore iPhones

Apple has been cracking down on retailers selling illegally unlocked iPhones – the company's Danish branch last week threatened wireless retailer Telekæden about the same issue – and is currently targeting wireless distributors in Singapore. After sending emails that implied legal action would be taken against shops that did not comply, retailers began pulling the units from shelves. Reuters reports that Apple would charge the stores approximately $700 USD per unit sold illegally.

The only wireless provider currently able to sell unlocked iPhones is Orange, a subdivision of France Telecom, who sells the unlocked version at 750 euros (~$1100), a premium of 350 euros (~$500) over the bound version. T-Mobile recently pulled its unlocked version of the phone after German courts overturned an injunction that required Apple to offer an unbound alternative.

iPhonenow.ca is running advertisements during the holiday season, offering Canadians a chance to buy an unlocked iPhone ahead of a heavily rumored official Canadian launch of the iPhone in January. No word has been released on whether Apple will intervene with iPhonenow's operations.

by MacNN Staff