There's plenty of us who aren't exactly fond of commitments, especially those multi-year types that wireless providers try to
rope you into whenever they drop a
snazzy new phone. But if you're looking to snag a prepaid GoPhone / TracFone for the entire family, you may have to take your business somewhere other than Wally World. The world's largest retailer is cracking down on "entrepreneurs" (read: notorious phone hackers) who are buying the subsidized handsets "by the hundreds to resell for profit," by reducing the amount of prepaid mobiles one can purchase from three to two. While "two national carriers" voiced support for
Wal-Mart's decision, the only confirmed provider was said to be Cingular, who certainly doesn't stand to profit from selling prepaid devices sans (pricey) prepaid air time. While the company hasn't exactly figured out how to stop tricksters from circumventing the system by purchasing multiple units at varying registers, at least the restrictions give parents with teenage triplets (or
quadruplets) a valid excuse to delay their gratification.
Not to say that the market for unlocked iPhones is quite as white hot as it once was, but Apple's now willing to part with as many as five iPhones per customer, up from the draconian two imposed back in October. The limit had been imposed to put the kibosh on rampant unlocking and selling of iPhones on the secondary market -- particularly abroad -- and Apple must figure that Europeans with a hankering for some Cupertino kit are more likely now to turn to their official domestic options to get hooked up. Of course, supply is probably more plentiful now than it ever has been, too, but whatever -- the point is that Apple's more than happy to take your 2 large in exchange for 5 iPhones if you're so inclined.
