europeancommission
Latest
European investigators to look at Apple carrier deals for possible antitrust violations
Apple is under fire in Europe for possible anti-competitive contracts with wireless carriers that allegedly stifle competition, said a report by The New York Times. No formal antitrust complaint has been filed, but the European Commission has supposedly asked carriers to provide information about their contracts with Apple. "We have been contacted by industry participants and we are monitoring the situation, but no antitrust case has been opened," said Joaquín Almunia, the EU's competition commissioner, in a statement provided to The New York Times through spokesperson Antoine Colombani. Sources, who were not identified by NYT, claim the focus of this inquiry are smaller European carriers, which have allegedly signed very strict contracts to carry the iPhone. Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris told The New York Times, "Our contracts fully comply with local laws wherever we do business, including the EU."
European Commission invests €50 million into 5G research with a 2020 target
You're still waiting to get 4G? That's old hat: the European Commission is already thinking about 5G. It's investing €50 million ($65.3 million) into research with the hope that the next-next-generation cellular technology will be a practical reality by 2020. About €16 million ($20.9 million) of that is headed toward METIS, an Ericsson-led alliance hoping to develop wireless with 10 to 100 times the capacity, a similar increase in speed and just a fifth of the lag. Like a UK parallel, though, there's only so much technology talk the Commission can offer at this stage. The funding is as much for regional pride as progress -- officials want 5G to be a Europe-led affair after Asia and North America took center stage on 4G.
RITE Project aims to conquer internet lag, eliminate excuses for game noobs
Lag: it's the bane of video chats, VoIP calls and Call of Duty players trying to keep a streak going. The European Commission must be as irked by delays and drops as we are, as it's giving €3.6 million ($4.8 million) over three years to help three universities, Alcatel-Lucent Bell, Institut Mines-Telecom and Simula Research Labs defeat lag through the RITE (Reduce Internet Transport Latency) Project. The initiative hopes to find new ways to cut lag on both the network itself as well as endpoints, like servers. If the networking research alliance hits the jackpot, it hopes to make standards of any proposed changes. Without a specific direction, it's not clear that RITE will lead to instant-response connections. Should there be much success, however, we'll only have ourselves to blame for flaky gameplay.
Daily Update for December 28, 2012
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get all the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the inline player (requires Flash) or the non-Flash link below. To subscribe to the podcast for daily listening through iTunes, click here. No Flash? Click here to listen. Subscribe via RSS
EU set to charge Samsung in Apple antitrust case
The legal battle between Apple and Samsung may be winding down, but the Korean electronics maker's courtroom troubles are far from over. As Reuters reports, Joaquin Almunia, the European Commission's Vice President of Competition Policy, has revealed that the organization will soon charge Samsung for the company's use of injunctions against Apple in the region. The commission's stance is that the injunctions may have run afoul of antitrust guidelines. Once Samsung has some time to review the specific charges it will be facing, the company will have a chance to plead its case in writing and request a hearing be held. Depending on the outcome, Samsung could be fined as much as 10 percent of the company's total annual revenue. [Via: The Verge]
Amazon wins EU e-book pricing battle with Apple and major book publishers
The European Union has accepted an offer from Apple and four major publishers to reduce pricing restrictions on content offered at Amazon and other book-sellers. After being caught out by the EU, we heard that the offer was likely to be adopted last month, and the commission has now confirmed the settlement which, according to them, "will restore normal competitive conditions in this new and fast-moving market, to the benefit of the buyers and readers of e-books." The new setup will let retailers set prices or discounts for two years and also drop "most-favored nation" contracts for five years. This clause had previously stopped Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Lagardere SCA's Hachette Livre and Macmillan from striking deals to sell e-books at other retailers at prices lower than those offered in Apple's own bookstore -- the "favored nation"
European Commission clears Broadband Delivery UK initiative
Britain has had grand visions of supplying broadband to virtually every home through its Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) initiative, but the lack of EU approval has put a large part of that plan on ice. Consider the European Commission's latest move a thaw, then. It just confirmed that BDUK is legal within EU rules on state aid through the measures to keep it honest, such as top-level advice to regional planners and Ofcom control over the costs and terms of any given rollout. The clearance lets a raft of projects get underway, and should ideally supply services like BT Infinity to 90 percent of the UK as well as a minimum 2Mbps for the rest; given that many BDUK providers have had to wait until now to get started, though, we wouldn't anticipate fast internet access in the boonies just yet.
European Commission clears 2GHz bands for LTE use by 2014, claims 4G pipes wider than the US
European LTE deployments might just be getting started, but the European Commission is already trying to head off any bandwidth problems at the pass. The organization has ordered that 120MHz of normally 3G-only spectrum around the 2GHz band has to be reusable for LTE and other 4G networks by June 30th, 2014. Once the airwaves loosen up, the Commission sees its home continent having an advantage over an LTE-happy US: it expects to have as much as 1GHz of spectrum available for 4G, or potentially twice as much as what Americans might claim. Officials are also mulling plans to repurpose extra slices of 2GHz spectrum that haven't even been used for 3G and could offer that much more headroom. While an edge over the US in bandwidth might not last after policy changes, it's hard to complain if the EC move leads to future smartphones whose downloads stay speedy.
Apple facing European investigation into how it sells AppleCare
Ever hemmed and hawed over buying AppleCare with your shiny new gadget? European chiefs are worried that you don't know all of your rights. They're concerned that Cupertino's warranty-selling practices hide the fact that all customers are entitled to a statutory two-year warranty to fix defects present at sale. The company has already had to open its checkbook to Italian regulators, but pointed out that the protection plan is there to remedy issues that may crop up after you've taken your new toy from its perfectly-engineered box. Nevertheless, commissioner Viviane Reding is pushing for a Europe-wide inquiry into the company, contacting all 27 member states to look into the matter. In the meantime, we're left working out how many times we're likely to drop our new device in the next three years.
European Commission set to fine Microsoft over 2009 browser compliance breach
The European Commission is planning to fine Microsoft for its failure to adhere to a 2009 ruling that required the software giant to offer customers a choice of default web browser. The EU Competition Commissioner, Joaquin Almuni, advised the press that a formal proceeding into the breach -- which Microsoft itself acknowledges -- has begun. Reuters reports that should Microsoft be found on the wrong side of the law, that the resulting fine could be as much as 10 percent of its global turnover. Whether the end sum would be as high as this remains to be seen, but given recent events, you can expected some hurried shuffling of paper in Redmond's accounts department.
Apple appeases European lawmakers with Lightning-to-microUSB adapter
We do love products that only exist to circumvent the finer points of legislation (hello there, Aston Martin Cygnet), but even better are the ones that actually serve a purpose. To comply with the European Commission's insistence that all smartphones must have a microUSB connector, Apple is putting out a Euro-specific adapter for its new Lightning standard. It's turned up in the UK and French stores so far, setting you back £15 / €19 ($25) -- and we imagine it won't be long before some entrepreneurial soul starts buying them in bulk to sell to microUSB users Stateside.
European Commission clears Vodafone, Telefonica UK and Everything Everywhere's mobile wallet and advertising plans
Everything Everywhere's been keeping itself plenty busy on the mobile wallet frontier and its involvement with the slow-burning alliance with Telefonica UK (O2) and Vodafone has finally been given a nod of approval from the European Commission. The joint venture aims to "remove a number of barriers" that are apparently hampering the phone networks' efforts, while it will allow businesses to connect with a single mobile payments system compatible with the majority of the UK's carriers. Take a look at more specifics (including the less thrilling advertising details) at the press release after the break.
European Commission pushes for spectrum sharing, sees 5GHz WiFi getting a lift
The European Commission is well aware that we need spectrum. Rather than make everyone fight for their piece, though, the agency wants us to hug it out. It's proposing a spectrum change that would bring in "much more dynamic sharing" of both licensed and unlicensed radio frequencies. While nothing's definite at this point, the EC's Digital Agenda representative Ryan Heath mentions that the move could give more capacity to WiFi in the unlicensed 5GHz space -- no doubt a relief for anyone who's dealt with an overwhelmed public hotspot. That's not to say that carriers won't benefit. Officials want to provide perks by offering "guaranteed rights" to providers and anyone else that has to share licensed airwaves with others. The sharing initiative is a long distance away from having an impact given that the Commission is calling for help from the European Council and Parliament just to get started, but it could be an important step towards harmony in a land where unoccupied airwaves are rare.
Apple and publishers offer deal to put price fixing scandal behind them in EU
In the US, the e-book price fixing scandal appears to be winding towards its inevitable conclusion. Many of the publishers settled with the DOJ right off the bat, and now the states themselves have gotten three publishing houses to cough up $69 million in their own agreement. (Of course, Apple, Macmillan and Penguin have all decided to go the trial route, but we'll have to wait till next year to see how that plays out.) In Europe, the battle is still raging on, but Reuters is reporting that the accused are offering concessions in a bid to put the antitrust allegations behind them. The only name missing from the list is Penguin, which may or may not be part of the plea deal. Not all the details of the proposals have been revealed yet, and there's no guarantee the commission will accept them. The heart of the settlement, however, would involve allowing Amazon to sell e-books at a discounted price for two years. Would cheaper Kindle books be good, clean fun for the whole family? Sure, but it certainly pales in comparison to the potential penalties if Apple and their publishing partners go to trial.
Everything Everywhere completes sale of spectrum to Three, waits for regulators approval
Three and Everything Everywhere have completed the sale of two 15MHz blocks of the 1,800MHz spectrum, announced yesterday. It follows Ofcom's controversial decision to let the latter network queue-jump to offer LTE services in the UK before the official auction process begins. Three won't be able to use its new toy until its frenemy has vacated it, which could be as late as September next year, but could start preparing 4G internet shortly after. The sale was made due to merger requirements by the European Commission, but still needs approval from Ofcom, but given that it's already handed the company an unassailable head-start, we hardly think it'll be too concerned by the deal.
New EU legislation requires cars to include autonomous braking system
While we're still a long way from living the fully autonomous car dream, baby steps are being taken. The EU evidently shares this dream, and has passed regulations that will require new cars to have emergency self-braking systems (known as autonomous emergency braking, or AEB) if they want to achieve a five-star safety rating. The systems can use radar, laser or video to detect when obstructions or pedestrians are present, and a recent study suggests that the technology reduces accidents by up to 27 percent. Commercial vehicles will have to sport the systems from November next year, and everything else from 2014. Safety aside, we're thinking that anything that can help prevent rear-ending our new ride, is definitely a welcome addition.
European Commission investigating 13 companies for optical drive price fixing
The European Commission is digging it its heels and officially launching an investigation into 13 companies for allegedly rigging bids on optical drives with at least two major OEMs. The companies haven't been named, but it's safe to assume if the Commission is getting involved these aren't two-bit players selling cheap knockoffs. With the Statement of Objections issued, now its a matter of gathering evidence and formally charging those it can build a case against. With an e-book investigation underway and a DRAM conspiracy not far in its past, the existence of an optical drive cartel is probably not the sort of news the Commission wants to hear right now. Sadly, there's not much detail to share, but you'll find the complete and brief PR after the break. Now its just time to sit back and wait to see what companies we're allowed to start hating next.
Intel appeals record-setting $1.45 billion antitrust fine... from 2009
It's been more than three years since being slapped with a record-setting €1.06 billion (roughly $1.45 billion) antitrust fine by the EU, and Intel is finally getting around to putting an appeal in motion. The request for a reversal is going to the second highest court in the union, the General Court in Luxembourg, where Intel's lawyers plan to argue that the evidence used to convict the company was "profoundly inadequate." The Commission that levied the fine was also criticized the European Ombudsman for failures in record keeping and procedure during the original investigation. However, the prosecution is sticking steadfast to its argument that rebates handed out by Chipzilla were clearly a clever ploy to hide its anti-competitive practices. Should the hearing not go Intel's way, there is one last stop on its journey -- the EU's Court of Justice. A loss there would require the rather sizable fine be paid.
Google offers to settle with EU over antitrust gripes, olive branch now fully extended
Google knows that there's a looming EU antitrust lawsuit if it doesn't volunteer some kind of change to its search practices, so it's not entirely surprising that chairman Eric Schmidt has sent a letter offering a settlement to the European Commission's competition chief Joaquin Almunia. The details of just what that potential truce entails are under wraps, although Almunia has long broadcast his concerns that Google might be unfairly favoring its own services above those of others -- he'd be most happy if the results were more organic. It's hard to say whether or not Google is prepared to follow along, but a peace gesture is a sharp break from the company's previously firm view that there's no need to change. We wouldn't be surprised if the EU's recent success in fining Microsoft has left Google hesitant to take its chances in court.
Court upholds EU antitrust decision against Microsoft, reduces fine slightly to $1.07 billion
Europe's second-highest court has finally denied Microsoft's 2008 appeal of its 899 million euro ($1.35 billion) EU antitrust fine, while reducing the award to 860 million euros ($1.07 billion). If you can't remember that far back, Redmond was hit with the penalty for delaying information about its operating system to rival companies, impeding their progress in competing with the software giant. It's not known if a further appeal is possible, but we suspect that the company won't give up if it's got any options -- it's not exactly pocket change we're talking about.
