PRESS: Retailers offer Russians iPhones activated abroad earlier

MOSCOW, Mar 9 (PRIME) -- Retailers have started selling in Russia iPhone devices activated abroad in advance, daily Izvestiya reported on Wednesday quoting market sources.

“It is explained by the fact that the Western companies working with our country fear U.S. sanctions. They are also afraid of discontinuation of a contract with Apple due to the ban for supplies of smartphones for more than U.S. $300,” Izvestiya said citing a large distributor.

According to the daily, the number of such smartphones will only grow, and their main drawback will be a shorter global guarantee, but the coverage provided by the seller will be one year as earlier.

The devices are bought in the U.S. by distributors from Turkey, the UAE, or other countries and imported to themselves for a further resale to Russia. If the products are traceable, like the iPhone, the gadgets show where they are activated, and Apple can learn who resold smartphones to Russia and break a contract, Izvestiya reported.

End