Unlocked iPhones present dilemma for Apple

But even Apple seems to have been caught off-guard by the wave of
consumers breaking into its latest gizmo, the iconic iPhone, in an
effort to "unlock" the device from having to operate within the network
of its exclusive telecom-service partners, which include AT&T in
the U.S.

The trend has been a mixed blessing for Apple. On the
one hand, the company is still selling plenty of the devices, which
rank as the most expensive wireless phone on the market.

On the other hand,
iPhones that go unlocked are used on unsanctioned networks, denying
Apple the ongoing revenue stream it has worked hard to secure through
exclusive deals with its carrier partnerships.

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