One of the most criticised things about the new Apple iPad is its use of 4G, the latest mobile broadband connection that offers high speeds in excess of ADSL2+. In Australia, 4G is offered by Telstra, but on a different spectrum to what Apple’s iPad supports, and that’s about to become an issue for the courts.
The new Apple iPad has made waves in America thanks to its support of the country’s 4G connection, thanks to the networks over there serving up the high speeds over two spectrums, 700MHz and 2100MHz.
Locally, Telstra is the only current provider of 4G, and it uses the 1800MHz spectrum to transmit 4G speeds, making the new iPad incompatible with the 4G on offer by the new iPad.
Australia’s Competition and Consumer Commission has said this week 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.”
While Telstra is currently the only provider of 4G connections in Australia, Optus has been testing a 4G connection over the supported 700MHz spectrum, but that’s currently unavailable for public consumption.
The matter is now before the courts where the ACCC is seeking to correct Apple’s advertising and force refunds to customers affected by the lack of supported 4G in the new tablet.
OMG. What a waste of money. If some other company did this no one would care. But since it’s Apple, all the Apple haters start dredging through every detail. And the courts, normally bored to death, have to rush in to the save the consumers from big, bad Apple.
Of course, no one cares about the 100s of crappy Android tablets that fall apart a week after you use them. No court case or consumer protection there.
@lrd555
Typical same old same old Apple owner comment what a hypocrite! Apple has always been known for quantity over quality, Ipods proved it with their sub standard audio quality, same with their tablets and phones, Apple too have not been without it’s flaws. It’s more like people want an Apple product because of little exposure to variety, a mate has one or the A to B simplicity as most people have little or no tech knowledge and like to play it safe. If a product offers quality and variety hey I’m there regardless of it’s OS or form factor. Fanboys will always bag the different only to save face and Apple owners always seem to be the first to throw stones.