Will Fire of Apple's Battery-Gate Spread to Samsung Electronics?

The fire of Apple's Battery-Gate spread to Samsung Electronics. Consumers’ complaints about Apple are leading each government to generally check the smartphone industry and market. Apple aroused controversy as the iPhone’s performance withers when its battery aged. In Korea, even a criminal accusation has been made against Apple. Other companies such as Samsung Electronics declared, “We did not commit such a thing.”

According to Samsung Electronics on January 19, an Italian government department equivalent to the Fair Trade Commission in Korea launched an investigation of Samsung Electronics after Apple. They are checking whether or not Samsung Electronics has degraded the performance of its smartphones depending on battery conditions.

"As announced earlier, Samsung Electronics has not limited the functions of smartphones according to battery performance," Samsung Electronics said.

This investigation was triggered by Apple Battery-Gate which sparked off a fire storm among iPhone users worldwide last year. Last year, consumers and the press found out that Apple updated its operating system for the iPhone to weaken the iPhone’s functions if its battery withers. In the United States, a lawsuit was filed for damages to ask compensations equal to Apple's market capitalization. In Korea, a criminal lawsuit was filed against Tim Cook, CEO of Apple and other people.

Meanwhile, the situation kindled by Apple is expected to be both a burden on and an opportunity for Samsung Electronics and other Android smartphone manufacturers. Samsung is the world's number one smartphone maker while Apple, the world's number two. If the government moves for a matter in a market, it usually checks market leaders. Other companies including Samsung Electronics, pronounced, "We are absolutely sure that there is no change in our smartphones’ performance in accordance with battery conditions." The investigation is bad news, but if the findings are what the other companies said, the government will assure a difference between Apple and them to people.