In First Ruling of Its Kind, Apple and Samsung Fined For Deliberately Slowing Down Old Phones

An investigation by Italy's competition authority has found that software updates 'significantly reduced performance' on Samsung's Android handsets and iPhones. From a report: Apple and Samsung are being fined Euro 10m ($11.4m) and Euro 5m ($5.7) respectively in Italy for the 'planned obsolescence' of their smartphones. An investigation launched in January by the nation's competition authority found that certain smartphone software updates had a negative effect on the performance of the devices. Believed to be the first ruling of its kind against smartphone manufacturers, the investigation followed accusations operating system updates for older phones slowed them down, thereby encouraging the purchase of new phones. In a statement the antitrust watchdog said 'Apple and Samsung implemented dishonest commercial practices' and that operating system updates 'caused serious malfunctions and significantly reduced performance, thus accelerating phones' substitution.' It added the two firms had not provided clients adequate information about the impact of the new software 'or any means of restoring the original functionality of the products.'

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