January 13, 2012 11:38 am EDT

Apple stops selling iPhone 4S in China to protect its staff

Apple says it's suspending iPhone 4S sales in mainland China following the violence we reported earlier, in which angry customers threw eggs at the company's flagship store in Beijing. The crowd had queued in freezing temperatures to purchase the newly-arrived 4S, but were subsequently told the store would not be opening for business -- hence their angry response. It seems that many in the mob weren't normal consumers, but were workers put in place by resellers who wanted to buy up devices and sell them on at a profit. There was similar disorder when the iPad 2 went on sale in China, and now an Apple spokesperson has said the risk to its staff is too great -- although we guess suspension must surely be temporary.

Apple stops selling iPhone 4S in China to protect its staff originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 06:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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