Apple fixed prices of iPhones, says Russian regulator
Apple was left with Olivier salad on its face on Wednesday, after Russia’s competition regulator found the US technology giant had fixed the prices of a number of iPhone models in the country.
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The Federal Anti-Monopoly Service alleged Apple’s Russian subsidiary had instructed 16 retailers to maintain a certain price for iPhone 5 and iPhone 6 models.
It said retailers were made to feel that their contracts with Apple could be terminated if they chose not to comply.
During the investigation, Apple vehemently denied it controlled the pricing of its products.
“[Retailers] set their own prices for the Apple products they sell in Russia and around the world,” it told Reuters.
The watchdog said that, insofar as it could tell, Apple had ended its price-fixing practices in the country, but it did not say whether the firm would now face financial penalties.
It was the third large American technology brand to be investigated in Russia in the last 12 months, after Google was found to have forced its own apps and services on users last May, and Microsoft was investigated for possibly abusing its position with the security features of Windows 10.
Google was fined £5m, and the investigation into Microsoft was understood to still be underway.
Apple was not publicly commenting on the Russian findings on Wednesday afternoon.