Apple to offer in-store repair of cracked iPhone 5C screens.

CUPERTINO, Calif., Jan. 21 (UPI) -- Apple 5C smartphones users who find themselves looking at a cracked screen can now get it repaired while they wait at an Apple store, the U.S. tech giant says.

An in-store repair option for the lower-cost version of the iPhone was unveiled Monday, with a cost of $149; previously, 5C phones with cracked screens had to be sent to a centralized repair center, at a cost to the phone owner of $229, CNN Monday reported.

While the 5C is eligible for screen repairs or replacement the service depends on the amount of damage, an Apple worker told CNET; screens with scratches or minor cracks could be repaired in-store, but phones suffering heavier or more extensive damage would still have to be sent out.

The in-store repair only applies to the iPhone 5C; the 5S and the older 4S versions will still need to be sent to a repair center then returned to the owner after the fix.

The move to offer in-store repairs is seen as a response by Apple to the increasing popularity of third-party repair services, which are less expensive but which void the iPhone's warranty.