14 DAY TRIAL // In Spring 2010, the Commission launched two parallel preliminary investigations into Apple's business practices relating to the iPhone, both of which may soon be lifted, thanks to Apple’s recent change in policy.
One of the investigations in question was focused on the "country of purchase" rule, whereby repairs service is only available in the country where the device was bought, explains the EU.
This made the exercise of warranty rights particularly difficult for iPhone owners who had purchased the handset in another EU/EEA country than their home country, the brief of the investigation said.
Apple's April 2010 decision to restrict the terms and conditions of its license agreement with independent iOS was the focus of the second investigation.
Apple has since had a change of heart. Earlier this month, it announced that it had relaxed some of these restrictions, paving the way for more developers to hop aboard the App Store.
“In light of its preliminary antitrust investigation into Apple's iPhone policies, European Competition Commissioner Joaquín Almunia welcomes Apple's announcement that it has relaxed restrictions on the development tools for iPhone applications (apps) and introduced cross-border iPhone warranty repair services within the EU/EEA,” reads the statement on Apple's iPhone policy changes.
“The latter in particular puts an end to the difficulties experienced by European consumers who need repair services for an iPhone purchased in a Member State other than their country of residence. In light of these policy changes, the Commission intends to close the investigations into these matters,” the statement reads on.
Commission Vice President in charge of Competition Policy, Joaquín Almunia, commented:
"Apple's response to our preliminary investigations shows that the Commission can use the competition rules to achieve swift results on the market with clear benefits for consumers, without the need to open formal proceedings."