The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has said it will take Apple to court over a violation of Australian consumer law in the labelling of its new iPad.
In Australia, as in the rest of the world, iPads which can connect to a mobile phone network are called ‘Wifi+ 4G’ by Apple. The ACCC claims that this is misleading because in Australia the iPad can’t connect to a 4G network.
That’s because the iPad works on the 700MHz and 2100MHz spectra used in the US and Australia’s only 4G network operates on the 1800MHz spectrum. ‘The ACCC alleges that Apple’s recent promotion of the new “iPad with WiFi + 4G” is misleading because it represents to Australian consumers that the product “iPad with WiFi + 4G” can, with a SIM card, connect to a 4G mobile data network in Australia, when this is not the case.’ it said pin a statement. ‘Additionally, the ACCC is seeking final orders including injunctions, pecuniary penalties, corrective advertising, and refunds to consumers affected.’
Apple may run into similar problems in Europe where most countries which have 4G networks run them on the 800MHz spectrum. In the UK, Everything Everywhere has said it will launch a 4G service later this year, on the 1800MHz band, and Ofcom is due to auction space on the 1800MHz and 2600MHz bands before the end of the year. None of those services will work with the new iPad
