Apple (AAPL) Under Pressure From EU Officials Over iPhone, Tablet Agreements

May 28, 2013 11:42 AM EDT
The European Union antitrust regulators are waking up from its winter hibernation, it would seem.

Earlier, reports had the EU looking for broader concessions from Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) with respect to it blocking out rivals search results.

The commission is also taking a similar approach with Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL). Reuters reported today that antitrust regulators are probing into whether or not Apple's agreements with telecoms in Europe aimed at "shutting out" rival handset makers.

Last Friday, the EU sent a nine-page questionnaire to telecommunications companies with questions surrounding handset subsidies and marketing agreements. Regulators want to know if Apple required commitments for a minimum number of its iPhone, whether subsidies were put in place to ensure that Apple gets equal or better terms than those give to rivals, or whether iPhone 5 usage was restricted on 4G LTE networks in Europe.

Replies will be submitted by June 17th, Reuters said.

Shares of Apple are slightly negative Tuesday.


Serious News for Serious Traders! Try StreetInsider.com Premium Free!

You May Also Be Interested In





Related Categories

Insiders' Blog, Litigation