New iPad puts Apple in 'misleading' ad row in Australia | WPN World People News

Australia's consumer watchdog has taken Apple to court for "misleading" advertisements that its new iPad computer was compatible with Australia's 4G network. Apple has denied misleading customers, but has offered refunds.

Apple's lawyers said they were willing to publish a clarification.

Apple Wednesday offered refunds to customers in Australia who thought the new tablet was compatible with the superfast 4G network offered by local carrier Telstra Corp.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said on Tuesday: "Apple's recent promotion of the new 'iPad with wi-fi 4G' is misleading because it represents to Australian consumers that the product can, with a sim card, connect to a 4G mobile data network in Australia, when this is not the case."

Apple's lawyers argued that the company never said the new iPad would connect with Telstra's 4G network.

Paul Anastassiou, who is representing Apple, told the court that the company would offer refunds and returns to customers "if they claim to have been in any way misled in relation to the reference to 4G."

He denied Apple had ever claimed that the new device would be compatible with Telstra 4G.

"No such representation in our submission is conveyed by the use of the acronym 4G in the name of the device," he said.

Telstra's 4G network operates on a 1,800MHz frequency. The new iPad 3 works on 4G frequencies that are available in the US and Canada.

Anastassiou clarified that iPad 3 could operate on Telstra networks like HSPA, which met international definitions of 4G.

Source: Caribbean News.Net