Figure of the day:
10 000 000
Euro will pay Apple for the old iPhone slowing down.
The Antimonopoly authority of Italy has fined Apple and Samsung each for 5 million euros as a result of the investigation of user complaints about the slow old smartphone models after the next software update.
Apple also received an additional fine of 5 million for failing to give customers accurate information on the maintenance and replacement of batteries in smartphones.
Consumer community in Italy complained to the regulator that the software updates for smartphones reduces the functionality of devices and is specifically distributed by manufacturers to entice users to buy the new model.
The monopolists figured out and the verdict: “updates result in serious violations of normal operation and reduces the performance, speeding up the process of being replaced by a new model.” Also Apple and Samsung did not provide customers “adequate information about the impact of the updates.”