Queens Kid Could Be Apple's Next Target

A 17-year-old residing in Queens found a way to pay for college (he hopes to attend NYU): give the people white iPhone 4s (which aren't yet sold by Apple). Allegedly there's a certain group of people that want the iPhone 4, but also only want it in white, and Fei Lam is making their tech dreams come true with a little side biz he started online.

According to the Observer, Lam knew a guy who knew a guy that could supply him white iPhone 4 parts directly from Apple's overseas supplier. Once he had that "in," he began selling conversion kits on his website: whiteiphone4now.com, where he sells kits from $135 to $279 dollars. (He's sold $130,000 in parts since August.)

Surely this can't be sitting well with Apple—and indeed, it seems like they may have already caught wind of Lam's plan and sent one of their thugs after him. Lam says, "I got an email from a private investigator accusing me of selling stolen goods, which I'm 100 percent sure is not the case. They are some kind of anti-counterfeit/trademark firm, which sounds ridiculous, similar to what Apple is bringing up to remove White iPhone 4 Listings on eBay. I don't know how this legal stuff works." He is getting a lawyer, who will understand how this legal stuff works, and in the meantime, has no plans to shut down his online venture. And perhaps he should keep his doors locked.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Carlson in News on November 16, 2010 11:28 AM

Comments [rss]

Donot

Why bother, you're just gonna put that sucker in a case anyways.

Mordicai

I said I would post this link to every Apple-is-a-Megacorp story from now on JUST this morning...

http://bit.ly/JGmTW

RevWaldo

As the story goes, Apple halted the production of the white iPhones due to light leaking both outside and into the phone, which affected the cameras. Google "white iphone light leakage" for all the facts and rumors. I wonder if these conversions have any of the same issues.

Guest

Al Sharpton is the invetigator the article mentions. He nor Apple are thrilled about this black to white conversion that is taking place by this yellow guy.

ed_Extinct

for the win

Rocknrope

A White IPhone? Nothing alittle spray paint couldn't solve. Recruit some of those idiot graffiti taggers, everybody wins.

JenChungsBaby

Who the hell would pay that much to turn their phone white? Phones are not fashion statements.

Dirk

Phones are not fashion statements.

What planet are you living on? I think a lot of people think of phones as fashion accessories. Appearance and a "cool factor" is a huge decision maker for a lot of people.

Love Your Life

+1 and good for those idiots that do pay.

JenChungsBaby

I can see choosing a white phone over a black one, but to pay $200 for it? Yeah, good for those idiots.

Dirk

I don't understand it. But hey, if someone has some money to burn...

JacqueMehoff

tell the PI to eat lead or pound pavement or however those old timey a-holes like to talk.

and, to prove to him the goods were stolen.

gothman

Clear case of patent infringement. This kid is gonna loose every cent he made on this.

Jamie McDonald

What if he just removed all the Apple logos and other proprietary markings? Wouldn't it just basically be a cosmetic alteration at that point, not that different from slapping a case on it? Apple should really think about going after their supplier instead, or, I don't know, about putting a provision in their original contract with the supplier which would prevent the supplier from selling to a 3rd party.