This time iphone and ipad maker Apple has come under the scanner of Competition Commission of India (CCI) for following anti-competitive practices and allegedly limiting the availability of its products to a few service providers...A consumer has filed a complaint before the CCI under Section 4 of the Competition Act 2002 that Apple is limiting the customer’s choice by restricting the availability of iPhones and iPads in India to a limited number of service providers, besides its signature stores, according to TOI. Section 4 of the Act specifically deals with ‘Abuse of dominant position’..The latest version of the i-Phone is available in India through only two service providers, Aircel and Bharti Airtel, while iPads are only being sold through Apple store..“The complainant has also alleged that a user can only download software from the i-store and the others are not recognised by the device”, a senior CCI official told media..The complaint further mentions about the availability of applications via only the official App Store and also the servicing of these products only via authorized Apple centres..Media reports, according to the report prepared by the Committee, Apple’s movements in a market, as competitive as India are seemingly unfair, in the sense that, its products are being made available only through a few, handpicked service providers, in addition to their own signature stores. The Committee has questioned Apple’s sales practices and Apple has been reprimanded for practicing unfair competition in the Indian market..Both Iphone4 and Ipad2 have been recently launched by Apple in Indian market..According to media reports, CCI is due to take up the matter for consideration by the end of this week. It will be interesting to see what stand Apple takes..CCI has become fully functional with appointment of its new Chairman, Ashok Chawla and has been actively keeping a check on anti-competitive agreements and abuse of dominant position in the market.
This time iphone and ipad maker Apple has come under the scanner of Competition Commission of India (CCI) for following anti-competitive practices and allegedly limiting the availability of its products to a few service providers...A consumer has filed a complaint before the CCI under Section 4 of the Competition Act 2002 that Apple is limiting the customer’s choice by restricting the availability of iPhones and iPads in India to a limited number of service providers, besides its signature stores, according to TOI. Section 4 of the Act specifically deals with ‘Abuse of dominant position’..The latest version of the i-Phone is available in India through only two service providers, Aircel and Bharti Airtel, while iPads are only being sold through Apple store..“The complainant has also alleged that a user can only download software from the i-store and the others are not recognised by the device”, a senior CCI official told media..The complaint further mentions about the availability of applications via only the official App Store and also the servicing of these products only via authorized Apple centres..Media reports, according to the report prepared by the Committee, Apple’s movements in a market, as competitive as India are seemingly unfair, in the sense that, its products are being made available only through a few, handpicked service providers, in addition to their own signature stores. The Committee has questioned Apple’s sales practices and Apple has been reprimanded for practicing unfair competition in the Indian market..Both Iphone4 and Ipad2 have been recently launched by Apple in Indian market..According to media reports, CCI is due to take up the matter for consideration by the end of this week. It will be interesting to see what stand Apple takes..CCI has become fully functional with appointment of its new Chairman, Ashok Chawla and has been actively keeping a check on anti-competitive agreements and abuse of dominant position in the market.