Apple has been forced to make an embarrassing comedown after Australian customers complained of being misled about the 4G capabilities of the new iPad. Subsequently, the California-based firm has decided to offer refunds to its customers based in Australia, many of whom complained to the country's consumer watchdog.
The firm has, in fact, already said that it is willing to publish a clarification on the issue, though it vehemently denies deliberately misleading consumers.
"Apple's recent promotion of the new 'iPad with wi-fi + 4G' is misleading because it represents to Australian consumers that the product can, with a sim card, connect to a 4G mobile data network in Australia, when this is not the case," the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said earlier this week.
Hitting back in the row, Paul Anastassiou, one of Apple's lawyer, claimed that the technology giant never suggested that the new device would work fully on the current 4G network operated by Australian firm Telstra.
Although Apple claims that the new iPad - which was unveiled earlier this month - works on what is globally accepted to be a 4G network, the firm will be forced to defend the performance of its newest device in an Australian court on May 2nd.
Australia was one of the first country's to see the launch of the much-vaunted handheld device and according to the firm, it had been its strongest iPad launch to date.
Ultimately, though, the ACCC hopes that it will succeed in securing an injunction against Apple and also see that the court imposes a hefty financial penalty against the world's most valuable technology firm. Additionally, the ACCC said that it wants Apple to correct its advertising for the new iPad and issue refunds to Australian-based customers.
In defence of Apple, a statement on its website acknowledges that 4G LTE is only supported on selected networks in the US and Canada. It remains to be seen, though, whether this concession will help the firm when it goes to court in May.