Italy fine Apple, Samsung a few million for "programmed obsolescence" in phones

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Italian regulators have decided to fine Apple and Samsung for features that they believe constitute "planned obsolescence" in smartphones.

The Italian competition authority imposed fines in the amount of € 10m and € 5m respectively to Apple and Samsung phone manufacturers after a multi-month review of consumer complaints in the country. As The Guardian reported, a survey launched early this year found that software updates designed for new Apple and Samsung devices had a negative effect on the performance of older phones, effectively pushing users to a replacement.

The antitrust agency argued that companies had asked customers to install new operating systems "Provoked serious malfunctions and dramatically reduced performance, thus speeding up the replacement of phones," while offering insufficient warning and no option to restore the phones' previous state, more quickly.

See also: California advances neutral and feminine leadership, but leaves drug addicts in the cold

In the case of Samsung, the Galaxy Note 4 has been slowed down (and in some cases restarted randomly) after updating to an Android operating system created for the Galaxy Note 7, according to Italian consumer information . For Apple, it is the adoption of the operating system for iPhone 7 by users of the iPhone 6 that has pushed Italians to complain about their poor performance.

In a statement to the media, Samsung expressed disappointment over the decision, which should be the subject of appeal, commenting: "Samsung has not released any software updates that reduce performance Galaxy Note 4 … Samsung, on the other hand, has always released software updates that give customers the best possible experience. "Apple has been contacted to comment.

As a result of their investigation, the regulators fined each company. 5 million euros, or 5.7 million US dollars, for software shipments. Apple has been fined another $ 5 million for failing to communicate the "essential" features of lithium batteries to their customers, particularly with regards to maintenance, service life and how to replace them . guardian has explained.

Last year, Apple admitted to using software to slow phones with batteries in poor condition to prevent sudden shutdown, but never wanted to shorten the life of its devices . He also offered discounted battery replacements and added more information and options on batteries to his iOS operating system.

Fines are the maximum amount allowed by law, if indeed potato molto piccole for the giants of smartphones. The case could well be the first of several for Apple and Samsung, which, according to Italian regulators, would have resorted to "dishonest commercial practices". A similar investigation in France could allow regulators to impose fines on businesses of up to 5% of their annual turnover or jail time if they violate consumer protection.

See also: Report: Amazon's anti-union training is revealed in a lost video

[H/t[H/t[h/t[h/tThe Guardian]

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Italian regulators have decided to fine Apple and Samsung for features that they believe constitute "planned obsolescence" in smartphones.

The Italian competition authority imposed fines in the amount of € 10m and € 5m respectively to Apple and Samsung phone manufacturers after a multi-month review of consumer complaints in the country. As The Guardian reported, a survey launched early this year found that software updates designed for new Apple and Samsung devices had a negative effect on the performance of older phones, effectively pushing users to a replacement.

The antitrust agency argued that companies had asked customers to install new operating systems "Provoked serious malfunctions and dramatically reduced performance, thus speeding up the replacement of phones," while offering insufficient warning and no option to restore the phones' previous state, more quickly.

See also: California advances neutral and feminine leadership, but leaves drug addicts in the cold

In the case of Samsung, the Galaxy Note 4 has been slowed down (and in some cases restarted randomly) after updating to an Android operating system created for the Galaxy Note 7, according to Italian consumer information . For Apple, it is the adoption of the operating system for iPhone 7 by users of the iPhone 6 that has pushed Italians to complain about their poor performance.

In a statement to the media, Samsung expressed disappointment over the decision, which should be the subject of appeal, commenting: "Samsung has not released any software updates that reduce performance Galaxy Note 4 … Samsung, on the other hand, has always released software updates that give customers the best possible experience. "Apple has been contacted to comment.

As a result of their investigation, the regulators fined each company. 5 million euros, or 5.7 million US dollars, for software shipments. Apple has been fined another $ 5 million for failing to communicate the "essential" features of lithium batteries to their customers, particularly with regards to maintenance, service life and how to replace them . guardian has explained.

Last year, Apple admitted to using software to slow phones with batteries in poor condition to prevent sudden shutdown, but never wanted to shorten the life of its devices . He also offered discounted battery replacements and added more information and options on batteries to his iOS operating system.

Fines are the maximum amount allowed by law, if indeed potato molto piccole for the giants of smartphones. The case could well be the first of several for Apple and Samsung, which, according to Italian regulators, would have resorted to "dishonest commercial practices". A similar investigation in France could allow regulators to impose fines on businesses of up to 5% of their annual turnover or jail time if they violate consumer protection.

See also: Report: Amazon's anti-union training is revealed in a lost video

[H/t[H/t[h/t[h/tThe Guardian]