SEVERAL electronic retailers in Lucky Plaza openly display the iPhone, even as stores in Sim Lim Square and online sellers fret about possible lawsuits from Apple, the cellphone's maker.

The iPhone, now the rage in the United States, is not meant for sale here yet. Also, it has to be 'hacked into' so that a local SIM card can be used with it.

A Straits Times check yesterday found at least eight retailers having iPhones in their window displays - mostly marked 'For Export Only'.

One salesman said anyone could buy an iPhone, already 'unlocked' and ready for local use, from his shop.

Another retailer did not display it but said unlocked sets could be sold to buyers.

The price for the cellphone at Lucky Plaza ranged from $750 to $1,100. It retails for US$399 (S$598) in the US.

Several retailers in Sim Lim said they have stopped selling the iPhone after Apple sent e-mail warning them that selling the hacked gadget could land them with fines of $1,000 per unit sold.

While most of the salesmen at Lucky Plaza were aware that Apple did not want them selling the iPhone, they put it down to the fact that it is not officially available here yet.

Apple has said it will launch the phone in Asia next year.

All iPhones currently sold here are 'parallel imports' not covered by a warranty.

Said an Apple spokesman yesterday: 'Apple does not support hacked iPhones. We strongly discourage users from installing unauthorised unlocking programs on their iPhones.

'Users who make unauthorized modifications to the software on their iPhone violate their iPhone software licence agreement and void their warranty.'