After the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) won a battle with Apple after alleging the Cupertino, Calif.-based company was misleading customers about its third-generation iPad, authorities in other countries, including the UK, Sweden and Denmark, are all now looking to assess the compatibility of the new iPad with local 4G LTE networks.
Now that Apple is granting refunds to Australian customers unhappy with their iPads, other countries want to know if their customers should deserve refunds too. The UK's Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) confirmed on Tuesday that it is investigating complaints of Apple's misleading "4G" claim.
"We are aware of the news from Australia regarding the iPad 4G marketing claim," an ASA spokeswoman told Pocket-Lint. "Without going through due process we can't say whether the [UK] ad is likely to be problematic. If anyone has concerns about the iPad ad then they can lodge a complaint with us and we will establish whether or not there is a problem under the Code."
The UK's "Advertising Code" says that all advertisements must not mislead the consumer by "omitting material information or by presenting it in an unclear, unintelligible or ambiguous way." This code is similar to the terms used in Australia, which did in fact win its argument with Apple, giving unhappy iPad customers a chance to refund their money.
When Apple launched the new iPad on March 16, the company only announced international LTE carriers for Canada, including Rogers, Bell and TELUS. But on the Australian and UK webpages for the new iPad, it clearly states that the "Wi-Fi + 4G model can roam worldwide on fast GSM/UMTS networks, including HSPA, HSPA+, and DC-HSDPA. When you travel internationally, you can use a micro-SIM card from a local carrier. The problem is, if you use a micro-SIM card in Australia, the UK, or any number of countries, you won't get the high-speed 4G LTE network.
Other countries are bound to start investigating these claims too, which would be a major blow to Apple's overseas reputation. Customers are already frustrated with the fact that they receive new iPads and iPhones weeks after they're released in the U.S., but this latest frustration could put international customers over the edge.
Sweden and Denmark are also reportedly considering investigations, after agencies within both countries received "several complaints" from customers about 4G connectivity. Even though Sweden carries broad LTE coverage, the new iPad isn't supported on those networks.
"One may rightfully ask if the marketing of the new iPad is misleading," said Marek Andersson, a lawyer with the Swedish Consumer Agency. "The question is whether this information is clear enough in Apple's marketing."
Even if Apple doesn't offer refunds to the European countries, it will at least need to correct its language and clarify the 4G LTE terms of the new iPad. But given Apple's history, it will likely allow disgruntled customers to refund their new iPads, but only within a certain time frame. Australian customers have only 14 days to claim a refund after buying their new iPads.
Now that Apple is granting refunds to Australian customers unhappy with their iPads, other countries want to know if their customers should deserve refunds too. The UK's Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) confirmed on Tuesday that it is investigating complaints of Apple's misleading "4G" claim.
"We are aware of the news from Australia regarding the iPad 4G marketing claim," an ASA spokeswoman told Pocket-Lint. "Without going through due process we can't say whether the [UK] ad is likely to be problematic. If anyone has concerns about the iPad ad then they can lodge a complaint with us and we will establish whether or not there is a problem under the Code."
The UK's "Advertising Code" says that all advertisements must not mislead the consumer by "omitting material information or by presenting it in an unclear, unintelligible or ambiguous way." This code is similar to the terms used in Australia, which did in fact win its argument with Apple, giving unhappy iPad customers a chance to refund their money.
When Apple launched the new iPad on March 16, the company only announced international LTE carriers for Canada, including Rogers, Bell and TELUS. But on the Australian and UK webpages for the new iPad, it clearly states that the "Wi-Fi + 4G model can roam worldwide on fast GSM/UMTS networks, including HSPA, HSPA+, and DC-HSDPA. When you travel internationally, you can use a micro-SIM card from a local carrier. The problem is, if you use a micro-SIM card in Australia, the UK, or any number of countries, you won't get the high-speed 4G LTE network.
Other countries are bound to start investigating these claims too, which would be a major blow to Apple's overseas reputation. Customers are already frustrated with the fact that they receive new iPads and iPhones weeks after they're released in the U.S., but this latest frustration could put international customers over the edge.
Sweden and Denmark are also reportedly considering investigations, after agencies within both countries received "several complaints" from customers about 4G connectivity. Even though Sweden carries broad LTE coverage, the new iPad isn't supported on those networks.
"One may rightfully ask if the marketing of the new iPad is misleading," said Marek Andersson, a lawyer with the Swedish Consumer Agency. "The question is whether this information is clear enough in Apple's marketing."
Even if Apple doesn't offer refunds to the European countries, it will at least need to correct its language and clarify the 4G LTE terms of the new iPad. But given Apple's history, it will likely allow disgruntled customers to refund their new iPads, but only within a certain time frame. Australian customers have only 14 days to claim a refund after buying their new iPads.
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