Apple to Declare First iPhone Virtually 'Obsolete' - East Idaho News
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Apple to Declare First iPhone Virtually ‘Obsolete’

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GETTY 5113 iPhone1?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1367414093990Justin Sullivan/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — Starting next month, Apple will reportedly declare the original iPhone virtually “obsolete” six years after it was first released.

According to an internal document obtained by the blog site 9to5 Mac, the first-generation smartphone will be classified “vintage” in the U.S. and “obsolete” elsewhere and in Apple retail stores on June 11.

That means most owners of the original devices will no longer be able to get them repaired or serviced.

Apple’s support website defines obsolete products as “those that were discontinued more than seven years ago.  Apple has discontinued all hardware service for obsolete products with no exceptions.  Service providers cannot order parts for obsolete products.”

Vintage products, on the other hand, “are those that were discontinued more than five and less than seven years ago.”

Apple says hardware service is also discontinued for these products, with one exception.  As required by statute, the company says owners who purchased their products in California can still obtain service and parts from Apple service providers or Apple retail stores in the state.

Introduced in June 2007, the first iPhones led to a revolution in mobile computing.

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