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Apple has set up an interesting system to combat scalpers who marred a recent launch of iPhone 4S in Mainland China. A newly created page ^[2] on Apple online store in Hong Kong has a kind of a lottery system for iPhone reservations that seems to target scalpers using bots for snapping up all the iPhones. Instead of reserving their devices on a first-come-first-served basis, buyers are currently required to supply full details, including government-issued photo ID card matching the ID number and the name.

Also this lottery appears to be valid during a three-hour timeframe each day. Those who get a reservation receive a confirmation email before 9 p.m. which includes the time when you can take your iPhone the next day. It is interesting that Apple specifically noted that it will not sell iPhone 4S or iPhone 4 to walk-in customers.

As you remember, scalpers are fairly organized, paying migrant workers ^[3] for standing in the line and buying the iPhone. When Sanlitun store was closed ^[4] due to large number of people, workers, wearing matching hats or armbands, became angry as they would not receive their payments.