Apple Stores Removing Security Tethers From iPhone Display Models

[Ploki]

Quoted you to explain that in this type of situation ONLY the components would be lost.

Yeah, but my post was referring explicitly to profit margins of iPhones, where someone alluded the margins are so enormous apple can afford having untethered phones. And I said it is ridiculous to estimate margins based on component list.

 

[imola.zhp]

Yeah, but my post was referring explicitly to profit margins of iPhones, where someone alluded the margins are so enormous apple can afford having untethered phones. And I said it is ridiculous to estimate margins based on component list.

They must be making money somehow, how many billions of dollars in cash do they have? How does a company end up with billions of dollars in cash if their main product (iPhone) does not have a large profit margin?

 

[bmustaf]

It is likely fully or partially automated. If the device leaves (even a generous to account for error) geofence, it likely puts a message on a queue somewhere for automated processing (or just someone at the store to go verify that it indeed is missing, press a button verifying such, and it is deprovisioned).

I wouldn't also be surprised if they had custom builds of firmware/iOS that only connected to Apple Store wifi, and the IMEIs are marked/blacklisted for carriers.

Thieves can still sell them on the grey/black market to unsuspecting schmucks or part them out, but at that point, a security cable isn't stopping them (as we've already seen).

I guess Apple is willing to put time towards deactivating the stolen devices instead of just adding the small tether. The in-store experience is nice, I suppose.