Apple restricts iPhone customers

Apple enthusiasts in the US looking to stock up on the company's sought-after mobile handsets might have a little trouble getting as many as they would like.

The iPhone is proving to be a craze in the US since its release in late June. More than 1.4 million handsets have been sold since they hit shelves towards the end of June.

However, concerns over bulk buying have driven the manufacturer to impose limits on sales. Customers aiming to buy more than one phone can buy no more than two - which could hit the Christmas shopping plans of some Americans.

Similarly, buyers can now only pay for the phones by card, the Associated Press reports.

Natalie Kerris, spokeswoman for Apple, said: "Customer response to the iPhone has been off the charts, and limiting iPhone sales to two per customer helps us ensure that there are enough iPhones for people who are shopping for themselves or buying a gift."

The decision follows Apple's admission that 250,000 iPhones that have been bought have yet to be connected to the AT&T network.

Apple suggested that these phones may have been bought by people who aim to unlock the phones and use them on other networks.

The iPhone is released in the UK on November 9th.