India may investigate Antitrust complaint against Apple

By siliconindia   |   Thursday, 23 June 2011, 23:37 IST
Printer Print Email Email
Bangalore: Apple is likely to face scrutiny from an Indian regulator for the alleged violation of completion laws in the connection with iPhone 4 sales in India. India's competitive Act of 2002 does not encourage agreements that are likely to cause an appreciable adverse effect on competition within India. Apple is accused of violating the competition law by selling the iPhone 4 through only two mobile operators, Bharti Airtel and Aircel. According to a Competition Commission of India, a case has been filed against Apple about a month ago. The official said the Commission would look into the complaint's merits; however, he did not disclose the complainant. Apple official in India claimed that the company did not receive any notice from the Competition Commission. The official also said that the iPhone 4 is being sold unlocked through the two operators and other retail channels. "The data plans bundled by the operators are optional, and at the discretion of the user," he said. Airtel and Aircel have offered the iPhone 4 with discounted data plans that promise to help the user recover the phone's upfront cost. Both started selling the iPhone 4 in May to take advantage of third-generation wireless spectrum that they acquired in an auction.