D. JonesiPAD Inhibited In Israel!
April 18th 2010 16:47
Today, we have a negative iPAD story and a positive one. This, obviously, is the negative one! Israel has banned imports of Apple Inc.'s hottest new product, the iPad, citing concerns the powerful gadget's wireless signals could disrupt other devices. Customs officials said Thursday they have already confiscated about 10 of the lightweight tablet computers since Israel announced the new regulations this week. The ban prevents anyone, even tourists, from bringing iPads into Israel until officials certify that they comply with local transmitter standards (Wow! That is a RISKY move to take tourists' iPADs! People especially Americans, are not going to like that!)
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission allows devices with Wi-Fi capability to broadcast at higher power levels than are allowed in Europe and Israel, meaning that the iPad's stronger signal could throw off others' wireless connections, Schubert said (Then they should consider an upgrade! Get with the program!) "If you operate equipment in a frequency band which is different from the others that operate on that frequency band, then there will be interference," (No..Really?) said Nati Schubert, a senior deputy director for the Communications Ministry. "We don't care where people buy their equipment. ... But without regulation, you would have chaos." Some Israelis successfully got the popular devices into Israel before the ban. (This could get REALLY ugly...they could make a law to send people to jail for having one...What are you in jail for?.....Uh, I was caught owning and using an iPAD!)
Amnon, a software developer who legally brought an iPad into Israel but asked that his last name be withheld to avoid potential government repercussions (what did I JUST say?) said he and other high-tech businessmen need the iPad to develop new applications for the device. "There are several hundred people in Israel who make their livelihood developing apps ... and there are going to be companies that suffer, because they can't deliver the services they're supposed to be delivering," he said (I believe there is MORE to this story, some sort of cover-up...and I will find it...eventually!) For anyone that doesn't know, the iPad combines the features of a notebook computer with the touch-pad functions of the iPod. It went on sale in the U.S. on April 3. Apple this week delayed its international launch until May 10, citing heavy sales in the U.S. (Uh, ya think?)
Israeli officials said the ban has nothing to do with trade and is simply a precaution to assure that the iPad doesn't affect wireless devices already in use in Israel. Although Israeli standards are similar to those in many European nations, Israel is the only country so far to officially ban imports. Schubert said he expects the problem to be resolved as Apple moves closer to the international release.
In the meantime, confiscated iPads will be held by customs, for a daily storage fee, until their owners depart the country or ship the gadgets back to the U.S. at their own expense. (Oh, MONEY is involved! How are you gonna take someone's stuff that already cost them a fortune and make them pay MORE money for it, either in storage fees or to ship it back home? NOT GOOD!)
Apple's chief distributor in Israel, iDigital, declined to comment on the Communications Ministry's decision, and messages left at Apple's headquarters in California were not immediately returned. (Of course!)
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