Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service this week concluded Apple coordinated with resellers to fix prices of its iPhone in the country in a ruling that could foreshadow fines for the U.S.-based vendor.
According to the FAS, Apple recommended pricing for the iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, and iPhone 6s Plus to sixteen major resellers in the country. That recommended pricing was then instituted across “most” resellers and upheld for around three months.
Russian regulators said Apple monitored resellers’ prices in online stores and retail locations, and subsequently sent emails to resellers asking them to change “unsuitable” prices. The FAS noted, though, conforming to recommended pricing could have been required by provisions of contracts between Apple and its reseller partners.
State Secretary and Deputy Head of FAS Russia Andrei Tsarikovsky indicated Apple’s Russian branch “actively cooperated” with the FAS’ investigation and took action to remedy violations of the country’s antimonopoly laws and prevent such violations in the future.
It remains unclear, however, whether any fines or other punishment will be levied on Apple as a result of the investigation.
