Officials in New York DoS asked Apple on Monday to change its iPhone design to allow consumers to replace their own stamp battery , just daylight after lawyers in Illinois filed a class - action lawsuit over the same complaint .
Apple charge customers a $ 79 fee to replace the iPhone electric battery , which is seal inside the phone rather of being attach by a removable latch , like most other consumer electronics . The fellowship also charges an extra $ 29 to rent the user a impermanent successor phone to apply during the mend .
Apple should revamp those policy and set gaudy fees for the service , according to alettersent to Apple CEO Steve Jobs by Mindy Bockstein , the chairman of New York ’s Consumer Protection Board .
“ A high - end cadre phone should n’t have to have scurvy - remnant client serving , ” Bockstein write . She also involve that Apple let out its contract price more distinctly in its stores and on-line sites .
Apple did not come back yell for comment . An AT&T spokesman referred all battery questions to Apple . AT&T is the sole mobile - phone serving provider for the iPhone .
The merchandise has already help to create new profits at Apple , although it launched just two days before the end of the fellowship ’s third quarter . Apple report an $ 818 million profit for that terminus , and expects that revenue will continue to rise , with an guess 1 million iPhones sell by the conclusion of the next after part .
The New York ailment was similar to a class - action case file Thursday in the Circuit Court of Cook County , in Chicago . That suit charges both Apple and AT&T with veil the battery replacing toll from client until they had already purchased an iPhone . It also alleges that users will have to pay that charge once every year , since the iPhone electric battery is rated for 400 recharging cycles .
Apple has already issue a statement that the battery should last far longer than one year , since it will still be 80 percent efficacious after the four-hundredth guardianship , and since the fellowship counts a full charging Hz only when the electric battery has been run down to zero power , not for every partial billing .
However , Apple did not riposte call for gossip on the case filed in Illinois . similarly , AT&T spokesman Michael Coe say his company does not comment on pending litigation .
If they decide to repugn the lawsuit , the companies will face an experienced foe . The suit was file by Larry D. Drury , a Chicago lawyer who recently lead the class - natural action lawsuit against James Frey , the author ofA Million Little Pieces , a memoir promoted by Oprah Winfrey ’s record book nightclub . Frey admitted fabricating parts of the volume . Winfrey renounced her warrant and some reader demanded their money back from the publisher . A liquidation in the case give up book buyers to file away for reimbursement .
Both the letter to Apple and the lawsuit echo anotherconsumer complaint , put in to Apple in June by the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights , a nonprofit advocacy group in California . The foundation state that Apple had already created controversy when it plan its popular iPod euphony player with an integrated battery , so the fellowship has had ample time to find a more user - friendly designing .
“ Unlike the iPod , the iPhone is obviously designate and commercialise as a gimmick to be utilized for a wide range of concern - link purposes , and on a unceasing basis , ” the letter said . “ We can only assume that Apple and/or AT&T designate to provide a substitute shelling at no charge for the actual life of the phone . ”
Unless Apple exchange its selling or conception strategies as a result of the climb complaints , the grounding is bound to be disappoint that its assumption will prove wrong .
