Client watchdog asks Apple, Ola, Uber to clarify glitches, pricing technique
The nationwide consumer-rights regulator has issued notices to Apple Inc for efficiency points on some iPhones in addition to requested ride-hailing companies, Ola and Uber, to clarify alleged differential pricing on Android and iOS units.
The Central Client Safety Authority, or CCPA, has taken notice of complaints of various fares for similar routes and distances based mostly on the person’s cellular working system, Android or iOS, Union shopper affairs minister Pralhad Joshi stated on Thursday.
Individually, the buyer watchdog requested Cupertino-based Apple Inc to make clear alleged efficiency issues with some iPhones following person updates to iOS 18+ software program.
“As a follow-up to the sooner statement of obvious #DifferentialPricing based mostly on the completely different fashions of mobiles (#iPhones/ #Android) getting used, Division of Client Affairs by way of the CCPA, has issued notices to main cab aggregators #Ola and #Uber, searching for their responses,” the minister stated in a tweet.
The notices to the ride-hailing platforms follows shopper complaints and viral social-media posts by customers of differential pricing for similar rides, which if true quantities to unfair and discriminatory commerce practices, an official stated.
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The CCPA has sought responses on whether or not the platforms have been participating in pricing methods that drawback customers based mostly on their gadget sort.
In an indication by way of a social- media put up, a person named Sudhir, had reported that Uber charged greater fares for Apple iPhone customers in comparison with Android customers.
In a declare, the person shared images, displaying two separate fares for a similar Uber journey. Whereas the fare on the Android gadget was ₹290.79, the Apple iPhone displayed a fare of ₹342.47 for the very same journey.
Joshi additionally stated the CCPA had issued a discover to Apple Inc concerning alleged efficiency glitches on iPhones following the iOS 18+ software program replace.
Cab aggregators Ola and Uber, and Apple Inc didn’t instantly reply to queries on the CCPA’s notices.
“With tighter scrutiny of tech firms, the notices replicate the federal government’s method that tech majors have to handle shopper considerations and never ignore them,” stated Ravi Khajuria, a tech-products reviewer for MacWorld.
Final month, iOS 18.2 delivered a flurry of recent Apple Intelligence options to iPhone 16 sequence handsets and the iPhone 15 Professional and iPhone 15 Professional Max. Apple’s iPhone shipments in India have exceeded $10.7 billion in 2024, widening its lead over Samsung for the second consecutive 12 months.
Bug fixes and new options have been key to this replace, whereas there have been quirks skilled by some customers.
Complaints to the Nationwide Client Helpline highlighted points corresponding to diminished iPhone efficiency, sluggishness, app crashes and battery drain following the set up of iOS 18 replace.
