SAN JOSE - APPLE has begun allowing people who bought iPhones before the higher-end model's price was abruptly slashed to apply for a US$100 (S$151) store credit.

The company said the credit would be available for people who bought either the US$599 8 gigabyte, iPhone or the US$499, 4 gigabyte model before Aug 22.

People who bought the phones more recently are eligible for refunds.

Those early buyers must fill out a form on Apple's Web site to have the retail or online store credit delivered to them electronically.

The credit can be redeemed only inside the United States, and cannot be used inside the iTunes store or for Apple store gift cards, according to terms listed on the company's Web site.

Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs announced the credits a day after irking early iPhone buyers on Sept 5, when he cut the price of the expensive model by US$200 and said the cheaper device would be discontinued.

The price cut came less than 10 weeks after the hybrid cell phone-iPod's highly anticipated June 29 launch.

The deadline to submit a claim for the US$100 is Nov 30 while the deadline for people who purchased iPhones between Aug 22 and Sept 4 to submit refund claims is Sept. 19. -- AP