Tag: Ban

Following China regulator's orders Apple removes popular messaging apps from App Store in China. Regulators were referring to "national security concerns" without additional clarifications.

Reference:

• Apple Pulls WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, and Threads From App Store in China Following Order
• Apple Removes Messaging Apps From Chinese App Store
• China Orders Apple to Remove WhatsApp, Threads, Signal, and Telegram From Chinese App Store

Apple complies with Apple Watch sales ban by disabling oxygen sensor and blood oxygen feature on a software level. Apple still waits for appeal to be reviewed by court, until then special versions of Apple Watch models are being sold in US.

These models have separate part number ending in LW/A. Apple's website is updated to reflect this change.

References:

• Apple begins selling Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 without the blood oxygen feature
• Apple to sell Apple Watch with blood oxygen detection removed to bypass ITC import ban
• Apple Will Begin Selling Series 9 and Ultra Watches With Blood Oxygen Sensors Disabled Tomorrow
• Apple Updates Website to Highlight Removal of Apple Watch Blood Oxygen Feature
• How to tell if the Apple Watch you're about to buy has pulse oximetry

Starting January 18, 2024 Apple is no longer allowed to sell Apple Watch models with oxygen sensor. Apple's appeal is still being reviewed, but motion to keep sales open is now reverted.

References:

• Apple Watch Sales Ban Reinstated in U.S. Effective Tomorrow
• Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 sales ban resumes tomorrow, appeals court rules

US Federal Appeals Court temporary lifts the Apple Watch sales ban until it hears the case. It is expected that hears will take place in the beginning of January.

References:

• Apple Watch ban temporarily halted, thanks to US appeals court
• Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 Sales Ban Paused by US Appeals Court
• Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 Available in Apple Stores Starting Today, Online Sales to Resume Tomorrow
• Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 returning to select Apple Stores today, online tomorrow
• Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Ultra 2 return to Apple Stores
• Federal Appeals Court Pauses Import Ban on Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2

Apple halted the sales of Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Apple Watch Series 9 in US. Some other retailers still have some in stock, however, these models could not longer be imported into US.

Apple appealed ban in court citing 'irreparable harm' to its business. US Court of Appeals to review the case later.

References:

• Apple appeals Apple Watch ban, citing 'irreparable harm' to its business
• Apple Watch Import Ban Now Official, Apple Appeals Decision
• Apple Watch ban news hub: Everything we know right now

Apple is no longer selling Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 through its website. But sales ban will also affect repairs for older models. Out of warranty repairs or replacements are no longer possible for models with blood oxygen sensor until the dispute is resolved.

References:

• Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 No Longer Available From U.S. Online Store
• Apple won't offer Apple Watch service replacements on out of warranty devices
• Here’s how the Apple Watch ban will impact your ability to get your device repaired or replaced

Apple is planning to pause Apple Watch sales in US – online sales will be halted on December 21, and starting December 24 Apple Watch models will be no longer available in Apple's retail stores. This includes Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Apple Watch Series 9 models.

Following ITC ruling previously and several failed appeals, Apple submitted request for presidential veto. This request should have response by December 25, and Apple preemptively announces sales pause.

Dispute in question is related to blood oxygen sensor patent by Masimo.

Other retailers seem to be unaffected by current ruling.

References:

• Apple to halt Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 sales in the US this week
• Apple Pausing Sales of Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 in U.S. Due to Patent Dispute
• Apple halting sales of Series 9 Apple Watch, Apple Ultra Watch 2
• Apple Announces Plans to Pause Sales of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 in the Wake of ITC Ruling

Recently France announced that iPhone 12 breaks requirements for radiation levels with one of the recent software updates. Apple is now expected to issue a software update to mitigate the issue.

Belgium is also investigating iPhone 12 radiation levels after France investigation results were announced.

References:

• Belgium to review iPhone 12 radiation risks, following France ban
• Apple to Issue iPhone 12 Software Update in France to Address Radiation Concerns
• Apple to release iPhone 12 software update to address France ban over radiation concerns

China government ban on foreign electronic devices might not affect plans on Apple making iPhone generally available in China.

AppleInsider reports that China government provided comment on device ban.

In a statement obtained by AppleInsider and other venues, the China foreign ministry has officially stated that "products and services of any country are welcome as long as they comply with China's laws and regulations."

AppleInsider

Also, China Mobile denies allegations that company plans to stop selling iPhones in China.

Morgan Stanley analysts claim that China iPhone ban will have much smaller effect on Apple than other companies anticipate.

"Said differently, while China is critical to Apple's success, Apple is also critical to the Chinese economy," continues Morgan Stanley, "and therefore while the potential for a broad decoupling between Apple and China in this multipolar world clearly exists, we don't believe recent headlines are necessarily foreshadowing this 'worst case' scenario."

Morgan Stanley also notes that it assumes "most Chinese government officials... already own a smartphone from domestic OEMs." So the banning of iPhones could have even less effect than it might have done.

AppleInsider

References:

• iPhone 15 still expected to launch in China despite government bans [U]
• China breaks its silence on iPhone ban rumors
• Investors are overreacting to China iPhone ban news, says Morgan Stanley

iPhone and other foreign technology devices are now banned for use by Chinese government employees. As of now it is not known if this ban is actually enforced, but there are reports that employees are recommended to switch to local smartphone brands.

More agencies and state affiliated companies are expected to have similar bans soon.

There are varying reports on how much this ban might affect iPhone sales in China. Analysts predict sales drop from 500k (which has almost no impact) to 20M units.

The Wall Street Journal: China Bans iPhone Use for Government Officials at Work

Reuters: China moves to widen state employee iPhone curbs

Bloomberg: China Seeks to Broaden iPhone Ban to State Firms, Agencies

Reference:

• China bans government officials from using iPhones at work
• China widens ban on officials using iPhones but isn't enforcing it
• China’s iPhone ban expected to expand to more government agencies soon
• China Expanding Government iPhone Ban
• 20M iPhone sales could be lost to China ban and Huawei competition, analysts forecast
• China's iPhones ban seen as effort to restrict Apple's access to market
• China government iPhone ban will have almost no effect on sales, says analyst