Here are your Apple rumors and AAPL news items for Tuesday:
Australian Watchdog Group Targets Apple: Claiming Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) directly breached consumer law, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission announced it will be submitting a complaint to Melbourne’s Federal court on Wednesday. As reported by The Wall Street Journal, the complaint is based upon assertions Apple held the new iPad as 4G compatible in its marketing campaign, despite the new iPad’s current incompatibility with Australia’s 4G networks. The accusations hinge on the argument Apple misled Australian consumers through a passive form of false advertising.
Nokia Introducing Bargain-Price Smartphone to Compete with Apple: In an arrangement designed to grab market share in the smartphone sector, AT&T (NYSE:T) has partnered with Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) to begin selling a $99 Nokia (NYSE:NOK) smartphone designed with Microsoft software. As Bloomberg contributor Scott Moritz reports, this new line of Oyj smartphones — dubbed the Lumia 900 — will debut April 8 as fully compatible with AT&T’s high-speed LTE network. The current-gen iPhone that AT&T distributes retails for $199 — since the Lumia 900 will debut at half that value, Nokia could be poised to give Apple a run for its money.
Tim Cook Makes PR Mission to China: Despite provincial legal battles and outrage around conditions at Foxconn plants, Tim Cook has embarked on a major step to improve relations between the world’s most valuable company and the world’s newest top consumer of Apple handhelds. As Reuters reports, Tim Cook is on the opening legs of his first PR trip to China as CEO since taking the reins from Steve Jobs last August. While the details of his agenda remain closely guarded, it is clear Mr. Cook plans to meet with a roster of high-ranking government officials — possibly to improve Apple’s corporate image or clear the air surrounding legally dubious activity.
Adam Patterson is an Assistant Editor of InvestorPlace. As of this writing, he did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. For more from the company, check out our previous Apple Rumors stories.
