Apple to restrict sales of iPhones

Apple Inc. said Thursday that it would no longer accept cash for iPhone purchases and would now limit sales of the cellphone to two per person in a move to stop people from reselling them.

Before the policy started Thursday, there was no cash restriction and the purchase limit was five per person.

“Customer response to the iPhone has been off the charts, and limiting iPhone sales to two per customer helps us ensure that there are enough iPhones for people who are shopping for themselves or buying a gift,” Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris said.

“We’re requiring a credit or debit card for payment to discourage unauthorized resellers,” she said.

Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple has said more than 1.4 million units of the hybrid cellphone-iPod have been sold since it debuted June 29. It is expected to be a hot gift for the holidays.

Apple believes some people already have purchased multiple iPhones to resell.

Some hackers are looking to modify, or unlock, the phones so they will work with networks other than Apple’s carrier partner in the United States, AT&T; Inc.

Apple estimates that buyers of 250,000 iPhones purchased them with the intent to unlock them, Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook said this week.

Apple’s attempts to prevent that unlocking activity, which included a software update that blocked the work-arounds hackers had developed, have frustrated users and sparked two lawsuits.