Apple Offers Refunds To 4G iPad Owners In Australia Who Were ‘Misled’ By Its Advertising

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The new iPad may feature a 4G chip, but it's not compatible with all 4G networks.
The new iPad may have 4G connectivity, but it doesn't support all 4G networks.

Following yesterday’s report that revealed Australian regulators are preparing to sue Apple over its “misleading” advertising for the new iPad down under, the Cupertino company has begun offering refunds to those customers who feel they’ve been misled.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) took aim at Apple yesterday for advertising the 4G LTE connectivity option for its new iPad in Australia, where the existing 4G networks aren’t supported by the tablet. It said that Apple’s advertising “represents to Australian consumers that the product, with a SIM card, [can] connect to a 4G mobile data network in Australia, when this is not the case.”

In a bid to get itself out of trouble, Apple is now emailing all Australian customers to offer them a full refund on their device, according to ABC News. The company has also “agreed to publish a clarification that states the product supports ultra-fast mobile networks but is not compatible with the Telstra network.”

Presumably, the company will also take steps to ensure there’s no misunderstanding in other countries where the iPad cannot connect to 4G networks. In Europe, where 4G networks will begin rolling out later this year, carriers are expected to use the 800MHz, 1800MHz, and 2600MHz cellular bands. These are bands that the new iPad does not support, and so it will not connect to 4G networks there, either.

[via MacRumors]

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