Cell phone makers fight resales

People moving state to state, armed with cash and tricks to avoid scrutiny, are buying cheap prepaid mobile phones by the thousands with plans to sell them in Latin America and Hong Kong, reports the AP. Picture left from Concordia University.

"Cell phone companies say the practice is costing them millions of dollars, and some have hired private investigators to document what they say is illegal tampering with their phones. Wal-Mart, Radio Shack and other retailers are limiting how many phones they will sell at one time.

The buying has raised concerns the phones might be used to aid terrorism, though those in the trade say it's nothing but capitalism at its best — no different than reselling stock for more than you paid."

emily | 12:41 PM | News, Buzz |
The Permanent Link to this page is: http://www.textually.org/textually/archives/2006/09/013500.htm