Apple updates Australian store to further clarify 4G abilities of new iPad

Posted:
in iPad edited January 2014


Apple has added more prominent text to its online store in Australia, informing consumers that the 4G version of the new iPad does not work with LTE networks in that country.



"This product supports very fast cellular networks," the new disclaimer reads. It is stated prominently above the the 4G LTE models in Apple's online store. "It is not compatible with current Australian 4G LTE networks and WiMAX networks. For service from a wireless carrier, sign up for a simple, month-by-month plan on your iPad and cancel anytime without penalty."



In the fine print, Apple has also added: "This model can roam worldwide on fast cellular data networks, including HSPA, HSPA+, and DC-HSDPA."



The changes were made after the Australian government accused Apple of employing "misleading" advertising with the new iPad, advertising that the model with a cellular radio could connect to high-speed 4G LTE networks. But the new iPad is only capable of connecting to those networks in North America, because other overseas networks operate on different, incompatible frequencies.



"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," the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said in a statement.











In response, Apple agreed to send out an e-mail to all Australian customers and offer them a full refund if they are unhappy with a "4G" iPad. The company also told the ACCC that it was willing to post disclaimers to notify customers, as it has now done with the revised website.



The Australian government's issues with Apple's advertising of the 4G LTE iPad spread quickly to other countries, including Sweden and the U.K., where the appropriate agencies said that they, too, were looking into the matter. The new iPad can connect to 3G networks in countries around the world, but its 4G LTE abilities will not work outside of the U.S. and Canada.



[ View article on AppleInsider ]

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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 55
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,176member
    See how clean and easy that was? No need to change the definition of 4G or talk about how technically Apple is correct. This is the way it should be done in every market where they sell the new iPad. No pain or effort in clarifying.
  • Reply 2 of 55
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Gatorguy View Post


    See how clean and easy that was? No need to change the definition of 4G or talk about how technically Apple is correct. This is the way it should be done in every market where they sell the new iPad. No pain or effort in clarifying.



    What's even worse is that the ACCC only uses the courts as a last resort so Apple could have done this long ago.
  • Reply 3 of 55
    onhkaonhka Posts: 1,025member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by fredaroony View Post


    What's even worse is that the ACCC only uses the courts as a last resort so Apple could have done this long ago.



    Are you saying that the ACCC tried all the other resorts first?



    My understanding is that they tried nothing. And just how long is, 'long ago'?
  • Reply 4 of 55
    solipsismxsolipsismx Posts: 19,566member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Gatorguy View Post


    See how clean and easy that was? No need to change the definition of 4G or talk about how technically Apple is correct. This is the way it should be done in every market where they sell the new iPad. No pain or effort in clarifying.



    You seriously don't see that it still says WiFi + 4G and the same exact information has been there since day one?
  • Reply 5 of 55
    SpamSandwichSpamSandwich Posts: 33,407member
    Even customers offered a full refund will soon be clamoring for blood as they start to smell the possibility of winning some lame class-action suit against the very, very rich Apple. It turns my stomach.
  • Reply 6 of 55
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Onhka View Post


    Are you saying that the ACCC tried all the other resorts first?



    My understanding is that they tried nothing. And just how long is, 'long ago'?



    They never use the courts first and try to come to an agreement the company first.
  • Reply 7 of 55
    wurm5150wurm5150 Posts: 763member
    Apple please do this to all countries where the iPad can't connect to LTE, get it over with, and stop all the bitching and inquiries, save all the hassle in dealing with and everyone can move on with their happy lives..



    That's until people find another thing you're doing wrong. But that's for another day.
  • Reply 8 of 55
    solipsismxsolipsismx Posts: 19,566member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Wurm5150 View Post


    Apple please do this to all countries where the iPad can't connect to LTE, get it over with, and stop all the bitching and inquiries, save all the hassle in dealing with and everyone can move on with their happy lives..



    That's until people find another thing you're doing wrong. But that's for another day.



    They never advertised 4G LTE for other countries, clearly marked on every page that 4G LTE only worked in the US and Canada. The problem was that it said 4G... and it still does.
  • Reply 9 of 55
    drdoppiodrdoppio Posts: 1,132member
    This text leaves no place for confusion. That's how honest business should be done. Well done, Apple.



    I hope the authorities will be equally vigilant against more obscure companies when they are unclear in their advertising. The consumers win from unambiguous information, and the companies earn respect and more customers.
  • Reply 10 of 55
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,176member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by SolipsismX View Post


    Never never advertised 4G LTE for other countries, clearly marked on every page that 4G LTE only worked in the US and Canada. The problem was that it said 4G... and it still does.



    No it didn't Solip. I mentioned that more than once the past few days. There was no mention that 4G wasn't available to Aussie buyers when they ordered their iPad directly from Apple's order page. There is now.
  • Reply 11 of 55
    solipsismxsolipsismx Posts: 19,566member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Gatorguy View Post


    No it didn't Solip. I mentioned that more than once the past few days. There was no mention that 4G wasn't available to Aussie buyers when they ordered their iPad directly from Apple's order page. There is now.



    Even AI noted this on March 09, 2012 when the iPad was first announced. It was made that clear:
    Quote:

    The wireless models now 4G connectivity, allowing users to connect to long-term evolution networks from providers like AT&T and Verizon. The new iPad will offer download speeds of up to 73Mbps over LTE. International 4G LTE partners are Rogers, Bell and Telus.



    Also from March 09, 2012:
    Quote:

    However, in the footnotes of the tech specs page (Apple's UK website), Apple notes:

    •*4G LTE supported on AT&T and Verizon networks in the US; Bell, Rogers and Telus networks in Canada



    This was stated on every iPad page and was even mentioned during the event, I think by Schiller.





    Quote:
    Originally Posted by DrDoppio View Post


    This text leaves no place for confusion. That's how honest business should be done. Well done, Apple.



    I hope the authorities will be equally vigilant against more obscure companies when they are unclear in their advertising. The consumers win from unambiguous information, and the companies earn respect and more customers.



    Except that it still says WiFi + 4G and there many people saying that you can't call it 4G unless it works with Australia's 4G LTE network.
  • Reply 12 of 55
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Gatorguy View Post


    See how clean and easy that was? No need to change the definition of 4G or talk about how technically Apple is correct. This is the way it should be done in every market where they sell the new iPad. No pain or effort in clarifying.



    I will be quite worried if they and any other manufacturer is able to call their next phones "4G" if they won't work on 4G anywhere in the world except the US (not to mention if you go to the US (or travel internationally anywhere) you have to disable data anyway to avoid $10,000 data fees.)



    The ACCC is quite correct that any phone that says "4G" must work on Australian 4G, not be clarified in smaller print as "this doesn't work on current Australian 4G networks". They've been pushing quite hard generally for any important 'fine print' to be the same size as the prominent slightly-misleading (but true) headlines.



    So in Apple's case, they would need to say in equally big writing



    "Wi-Fi + 4G (not 4G compatible)"



    It would have been just the same if the "iPhone 3G" didn't work on 3G networks, just 2G. But it did work on 3G, so no problem

    The "iPhone 4" was nice marketing.... make the "4" connection without actually saying "4G".
  • Reply 13 of 55
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,176member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by SolipsismX View Post


    Even AI noted this on March 09, 2012 when the iPad was first announced. It was made that clear:



    Also from March 09, 2012:

    This was stated on every iPad page and was even mentioned during the event, I think by Schiller.



    No mater how many times you say it, it was not ever mentioned on the order page. Even you mention it was on the specs page, far short of every page, and even there it was footnote 2.



    There's no way you think any of that was nearly as clear as Apple's current statement right on the product page.
  • Reply 14 of 55
    drdoppiodrdoppio Posts: 1,132member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Gatorguy View Post


    ...There was no mention that 4G wasn't available to Aussie buyers when they ordered their iPad directly from Apple's order page. There is now.



    The UK and Swedish pages are still not corrected.



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by SolipsismX


    Except that it still says WiFi + 4G and there many people saying that you can't call it 4G unless it works with Australia's 4G LTE network



    Well that's the name of the product. If people get confused by that despite the clear text "It is not compatible...", then it's their own fault.
  • Reply 15 of 55
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,176member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by SolipsismX View Post


    Even AI noted this on March 09, 2012 when the iPad was first announced. It was made that clear:



    Also from March 09, 2012:

    This was stated on every iPad page and was even mentioned during the event, I think by Schiller.



    No matter how many times you say it, it was not ever mentioned on the product order page where a buyer would expect to be informed. Even you mention it was on the specs page, far short of every page, and even there it was footnote 2.



    There's no way you think any of that was nearly as clear as Apple's current statement right on the product page.
  • Reply 16 of 55
    solipsismxsolipsismx Posts: 19,566member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Gatorguy View Post


    No mater how many times you say it, it was not ever mentioned on the order page. Even you mention it was on the specs page, far short of every page, and even there it was footnote 2.



    There's no way you think any of that was nearly as clear as Apple's current statement right on the product page.



    Then prove it. Show me a screen shot or a cached page from the 9th that has Apple appended the specifics to every iPad page except one.





    Quote:
    Originally Posted by DrDoppio View Post


    Well that's the name of the product. If people get confused by that despite the clear text "It is not compatible...", then it's their own fault.



    So the argument that you can't call something 4G in Australia without it being LTE is bogus? There is absolutely no consistency with the arguments here so everyone that is saying "That was easy, all we wanted was Apple to make the fine print bigger" are full of shit.
  • Reply 17 of 55
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,176member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by GregAlexander View Post


    I will be quite worried if they and any other manufacturer is able to call their next phones "4G" if they won't work on 4G anywhere in the world except the US (not to mention if you go to the US (or travel internationally anywhere) you have to disable data anyway to avoid $10,000 data fees.)



    The ACCC is quite correct that any phone that says "4G" must work on Australian 4G, not be clarified in smaller print as "this doesn't work on current Australian 4G networks". They've been pushing quite hard generally for any important 'fine print' to be the same size as the prominent slightly-misleading (but true) headlines.



    So in Apple's case, they would need to say in equally big writing



    "Wi-Fi + 4G (not 4G compatible)"



    It would have been just the same if the "iPhone 3G" didn't work on 3G networks, just 2G. But it did work on 3G, so no problem

    The "iPhone 4" was nice marketing.... make the "4" connection without actually saying "4G".



    With the change I don't have any more problem with it personally. Does it satisfy the ACCC? I'm sure we'll soon know.
  • Reply 18 of 55
    onhkaonhka Posts: 1,025member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by fredaroony View Post


    They never use the courts first and try to come to an agreement the company first.



    My understanding is that Apple was not contacted by the ACCC and that the court action was the only effort they have instituted in this case.



    Quote:

    Apple Pty Ltd provides undertaking in response to ACCC ?iPad with WiFi + 4G? urgent application



    The Federal Court has accepted an undertaking from Apple Pty Limited in response to an urgent application filed by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) earlier today.



    The ACCC has alleged that the promotion of the "iPad with WiFi + 4G" by Apple Pty Limited and Apple Inc 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.



    Today Apple Pty Ltd provided an undertaking to the Federal Court that until further order or hearing, Apple Pty Limited would as soon as is reasonably practicable and by no later than 5 April 2012:
    • display a statement that the ?This product supports very fast cellular networks. It is not compatible with current Australian 4G LTE networks and WiMAX Networks? in its promotional materials, on its website and online store

    • distribute signage with the same wording to resellers to be displayed at points of sale

    • contact by email any persons for whom Apple Pty Limited has an email address and who have purchased the ?iPad with WiFI + 4G? between 16 March and 28 March 2012 (including pre-orders prior to 16 March 2012) including statements to the effect that ?This product supports very fast cellular networks. It is not compatible with current Australian 4G LTE networks and WiMAX Networks? and that such persons are entitled to return the product and request a refund within a timeframe specified in the email.

    A directions hearing has been scheduled for 16 April 2012 at 9:30am. A mediation has been ordered for 18 April 2012. A hearing on liability has been set down commencing 2 May 2012.



    Release # NR 059/12

    Issued: 28th March 2012



  • Reply 19 of 55
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,176member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Onhka View Post


    My understanding is that Apple was not contacted by the ACCC and that the court action was the only effort they have instituted in this case.



    The initial complaint said the ACCC contacted Apple on the 15th (IIRC), the day before the actual product launch, to voice their concerns.
  • Reply 20 of 55
    drdoppiodrdoppio Posts: 1,132member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by SolipsismX View Post


    ...

    So the argument that you can't call something 4G in Australia without it being LTE is bogus? There is absolutely no consistency with the arguments here so everyone that is saying "That was easy, all we wanted was Apple to make the fine print bigger" are full of shit.



    You can call it whatever you want, as long as you're not misleading your customers. Beating about the bush by using ambiguous definitions and hiding essential information in footnotes is what's not ok.



    The information is now up front; the text is unambiguous. It contains the simple "not compatible" that was missing before from the Australian page (and still is from the UK page).
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