The new cashless iPhone economy is the direct result of the market for unlocked iPhones. Those that have been altered in some way to work on a wireless network other than AT&T's, the exclusive service provider for the iPhone thus far.

With its new payment policy, Apple is attempting to stem the tide of iPhones that are bought to be unlocked and resold. According to Apple Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook, it is a number that is nothing to sneeze at. Last week, during Apple's financial call, he said more than 250,000 of the 1.4 million or so iPhones that have been sold so far have not been connected to AT&T's network.

You'd think Apple would be happy to move a quarter of a million extra iPhones in this manner. It isn't.

It is not just a problem for AT&T, which loses out on the service revenue the iPhone generates for itself. It is a problem for Apple as well. Why? Because it is also getting a piece of service revenue pie—$18 per iPhone per month, according to Piper Jaffrey analyst Gene Munster.

This adds up to several millions of dollars of lost revenue for Apple. The more unlocked iPhones the more Apple stands to lose.

Unfortunately for those who stand to receive Apple Gift Cards this holiday season, Apple has extended its cashless iPhone policy to these as well, even if the gifter bought the card with a credit card, reports Engadget.

The number of international iPhone unlocks should decrease in the coming months, as Apple starts to roll the smartphone out worldwide, starting with three European markets before the end of this year.