Apple distributor’s ‘warning’ to mobile phone stores in India

Apple distributors are warning Indian retailers against activating new iPhones, especially the iPhone 17 series, with foreign SIMs within 90 days, citing hefty penalties and store code blocking. This crackdown follows a surge in iPhone 17 models being diverted to high-margin markets like Russia, Africa, and the Middle East, causing domestic shortages. Retailers are pushing back against this mandate, arguing it unfairly targets them.