Apple escapes competition charges

The European Commission has ended its competition investigation into Apple because it is happy with changes to developer licenses and on cross-border repairs of handsets.

European Competition Commissioner Joaquín Almunia said he was satisfied with Apple's changes to rules for developers and changes to policies on repairs for European citizens who buy an iPhone in a country other than where they live.

Almunia said: "Apple's response to our preliminary investigations shows that the Commission can use the competition rules to achieve swift results on the market with clear benefits for consumers, without the need to open formal proceedings."

The Commission launched two investigations into Apple in the spring. One was into "country of purchase" rules which restricted the ability of consumers to claim repairs under warranty if they were not in the same country as when they bought their phone.

The second investigation centred on Apple's insistence that iPhone app developers only use Apple's own development tools, to the potential detriment of third-party makers of development tools. Apple lessened these restrictions earlier this month.

Apple resellers will now offer repairs regardless of where in the European Union or European Economic Area you bought your handset.

The full statement is here. ®