Apple continues to fight fires related to its slowing down of older iPhones. From user backlash to lawsuits, the company has been trying to move on from the debacle. However, a U.S. Senator is not letting it go without more explanations.
Sen. John Thune, head of the Senate committee that oversees tech, questioned Apple's motives for throttling the iPhones, as well as its transparency to customers.
“However, even if Apple’s actions were indeed only intended to avoid unexpected shutdowns on older phones, the large volume of consumer criticism leveled against the company in light of its admission suggests that there should have been better transparency with respect to these practices,” the GOP lawmaker wrote in a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook.
While Apple has offered battery replacements at a discount for $29, Thune suggested that the move did not go far enough. “Moreover, Apple’s proposed solutions have prompted additional criticism from some customers, particularly its decision not to provide free replacement batteries to affected customers.” He wants to know Apple's decision-making process that resulted in the $29 cost of replacement.
Thune wants answers to a variety of questions, such as whether throttling affects even older models of iPhones, which are not covered by the replacement plan. He also wants to know if the company has plans to eventually "throttle back processing performance for newer models,” and what the company's plans are to alert customers to that fact if it does.
The South Dakota lawmaker has given Apple until January 23 to respond.
Source: Recode
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