iPad '4G' claims face scrutiny from UK regulator

[xxMATTGxx]

I would hope the ASC here is more concerned with regulating advertisements about things such as drugs or loans as opposed to telling companies not to advertise non product selling point features which will likely be introduced to the market shortly anyway, because of the off chance that someone is stupid enough to spend a thousand dollars on the product not knowing what it does and who is incapable of going back to the store to return it in the event that s/he is dissatisfied once coming to the (should be immediate) realization that the thousand dollars they spent on the product included spending money on a feature they cannot use. In my opinion and presumably the opinion of Ad Standards Canada, there is a difference between protecting consumers and spoon feeding them all the "right" answers.

Brb going to advertise a product in the UK and tell everyone that it can do 4G but you would have to travel to the USA or Canada to actually use that feature. Because that makes a lot of sense! The UK advertising agency is actually doing something good and stopping this sort of crap. Oh and it's also taking place in Australia to!

The iPad cannot do 4G in the UK and shouldn't be advertised that it can in the UK.

[Recursion]

I would hope the ASC here is more concerned with regulating advertisements about things such as drugs or loans as opposed to telling companies not to advertise non product selling point features which will likely be introduced to the market shortly anyway, because of the off chance that someone is stupid enough to spend a thousand dollars on the product not knowing what it does and who is incapable of going back to the store to return it in the event that s/he is dissatisfied once coming to the (should be immediate) realization that the thousand dollars they spent on the product included spending money on a feature they cannot use. In my opinion and presumably the opinion of Ad Standards Canada, there is a difference between protecting consumers and spoon feeding them all the "right" answers.

You can't expect everyone to be clued up in terms of technology.

Partly off topic, but I'm pretty sure I've never seen a drugs advert on TV

[HotelUser]

Brb going to advertise a product in the UK and tell everyone that it can do 4G but you would have to travel to the USA or Canada to actually use that feature. Because that makes a lot of sense! The UK advertising agency is actually doing something good and stopping this sort of crap. Oh and it's also taking place in Australia to!

It's pretty bad if somebody buys a product thinking they can use a feature which doesn't even exist in the country they live, and that picture you posted is absolutely adorable!

You can't expect everyone to be clued up in terms of technology.

Partly off topic, but I'm pretty sure I've never seen a drugs advert on TV

Really? not even over the counters?

[xxMATTGxx]

It's pretty bad if somebody buys a product thinking they can use a feature which doesn't even exist in the country they live, and that picture you posted is absolutely adorable!



Really? not even over the counters?

And you expect every single person of the population to know about technology? Don't advertise features that aren't available in the country you are selling it in.

[HotelUser]

And you expect every single person of the population to know about technology? Don't advertise features that aren't available in the country you are selling it in.

I'm really struggling to see how that would fly over here, a lot of people would blame the consumer for spending so much money and not understanding what on-- I would be inclined to agree.

[xxMATTGxx]

I'm really struggling to see how that would fly over here, a lot of people would blame the consumer for spending so much money and not understanding what on-- I would be inclined to agree.

We would blame the company who advertised it because they are advertising features that aren't actually available. Maybe that's just typical USA/Canada!

[Chippiewill]

I'm really struggling to see how that would fly over here, a lot of people would blame the consumer for spending so much money and not understanding what on-- I would be inclined to agree.

Our economy is based on the assumption that the consumer can trust the retailer, clash of cultures really but it does mean that we need our ASA to prevent companies from abusing that trust in bad faith which is clearly what Apple was attempting to do.

[peteyt]

I'm really struggling to see how that would fly over here, a lot of people would blame the consumer for spending so much money and not understanding what on-- I would be inclined to agree.

You can rationalise it all you want but Apple where advertising a feature of their product in a country that can't use that feature. To deny this as misleading is just wrong and it's the whole reason the UK has an advertising agency against stuff like this, to protect consumers.

I also find that Apple has a lot of mindless followers who will buy the next product even if they don't need the new features on it - just because its a new product. Remember not everyone knows the latest technical stuff. I know a lot of older people with iPads and iPhones who know how to use them basically but probably wouldn't know what 3g is never mind 4g. They may think 4g is better and so buy it not realising its not supported in the UK. You could say it's their fault for not knowing but I would say Apple was also at fault for misleading them in the first place.

[xxMATTGxx]

Just an update on this matter.

Apple changes iPad branding to Wi-Fi + Cellular

Soon after the new third generation iPad was launched, residents of other countries complained that Apple's claims of the iPad having "4G" wireless support were incorrect. North American buyers can connect to 4G LTE networks on Verizon or AT&T, but other countries cannot because their wireless network's frequencies are different.

In Australia, Apple has already offered to give iPad owners there a refund if they felt mislead by the 4G claims. Now it looks like Apple is making even more changes, perhaps as a way to avoid any legal actions against the company. As first spotted by 9to5Mac.com, the Apple online store has now changed how the iPad with both Wi-Fi and wireless data network support is branded.

Instead of the previous "Wi-Fi + 4G", the new iPad models that connect to mobile phone wireless networks have been rebranded as having "Wi-Fi + Cellular" support. The older iPad 2 still has the "Wi-Fi + 3G" branding.

This change is apparently being made worldwide, including in the US. In addition, the Australian Apple store has an additional message:

This product supports very fast cellular networks. It is not compatible with current Australian 4G LTE networks and WiMAX networks. For service from a wireless carrier, sign up for a simple, month-by-month plan on your iPad and cancel anytime without penalty.

In addition to the online store, Apple retail stores have now changed their signage to reflect the new Wi-Fi + Cellular branding.

http://www.neowin.net/news/apple-cha...i-fi--cellular

[HotelUser]

Our economy is based on the assumption that the consumer can trust the retailer, clash of cultures really but it does mean that we need our ASA to prevent companies from abusing that trust in bad faith which is clearly what Apple was attempting to do.

There is no basis to suggest Apple's alleged illegal advertising move is in bad faith, they simply copied their American advertising which happened to be illegal in the UK, lazy but not enough evidence to prove bad faith based on that at all.

We would blame the company who advertised it because they are advertising features that aren't actually available. Maybe that's just typical USA/Canada!

Or to me, typical UK!

Just an update on this matter.



http://www.neowin.net/news/apple-cha...i-fi--cellular

And thus all assertions that Apple marketed in bad faith are renounced.