Apple is to cough up $15 or a free case to every customer who bought a shoddy device in 2010.
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| Jobs in the midst of the iPhone scandal. |
Disgruntled Apple customers brought the class action against the giant after they were dogged by poor reception on their smartphone device in 2010, known as ‘antannaegate’.
The lawyer representing the class action, Ira Rothken, says 25 million iPhone 4 owners may be eligible for the $15 payout or free bumper case in a settlement reached in the US last week.
However Apple beg to differ, still insisting only a “small number of customers” were affected by antennae issues.
If Rothken’s figure is correct then Apple may have to shell out $375 million to iPhone 4 owners, in total.
“This settlement relates to a small number of customers who indicated that they experienced antenna or reception issues with their iPhone 4, and didn’t want to take advantage of a free case from Apple when it was being offered in 2010,” Apple told Cnet after the settlement.
However, Rothken was happy with the settlement saying it was “fair, adequate, and reasonable.”
“We believe that it allows members of the class to choose, and they can get $15 of cash or a bumper, so we believe that type of choice is proportional to the circumstances.”
The class action comprise 18 separate cases combined into one, all of whom claim Apple “misrepresented and concealed material information relating to the advertising, sale, and servicing of iPhone 4” in particular the quality of the phone’s antenna and reception, according to the report.
Former Apple boss, Steve Jobs, famously said the antannegate scandal was rival Google’s cynical attempt to “shoot Apple down”, declaring the issue was “blown so out of proportion that it’s incredible.”
However, Apple later capitulated to pressure and held an emergency press conference days later where an apologetic Apple (and Jobs) announced full refunds, free cases, rubber bumpers to appease angry users.
However, the class action went ahead, despite this.
Apple customers will be able to access information on how to make a claim www.iPhone4Settlement.com, although the site isn’t live yet.
