Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is bringing in external contractors to help replace iPhone batteries because demand has soared since the company cut the price for the service, 9to5Mac reported.
Along with shifting AppleCare employees into retail stores to work on the replacements, outside workers are being trained by Apple staff before working on phones, the report said, citing unidentified Apple employees.
Apple said late last year it would cut the price of out-of-warranty iPhone battery replacements from US$79 to US$29 for anyone with an iPhone 6 or any later model, starting in late January and available worldwide through December 2018.
The company has been accused of deceiving customers by reducing processor speeds in outdated handsets. Apple has owned up to slowing down older handsets but has said the move was designed to stop devices from abruptly shutting down.