Apple proposed $ 84 million in support to escape the antitrust case in Korea

According to the South Korean antitrust regulator, Apple is said to have forced mobile carriers to pay for advertising and warranty costs.

And to solve this problem, Apple subsidiary in Korea is proposing up to 84 million USD to address monopoly concerns. In the proposal, Apple will spend this money on projects to support Korean consumers.

Specifically, about 42 million USD will be used to build an R&D support center. The Center will only support small producers. The next $ 21 million will be used to build developer training academies. And the remaining 21 million USD will be used to reduce the price of warranty services for consumers.

Previously, Apple was investigated by the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) for monopolistic behavior due to abuse of its dominant market position.

Now, KFTC said, Apple has agreed to amend the “unfair” terms with the operators. For example, the company will discuss with telecom companies to share advertising costs. This will help reduce the burden on operators.

Even so, KFTC said, they have not made a final decision and will solicit public opinion on Apple’s proposal. If the public supports, the investigation will be closed and no longer any rulings regarding Apple’s violation. However, if things don’t go as Apple expected, the company could face an adverse ruling.

According to data from market research firm Counterpoint, Apple accounted for about 18% of the smartphone market in South Korea last year. However, it still lags far behind Samsung Electronics with 65% market share.

See Gizchina