Over in Australia Telstra has bowed down to consumer demand and is rolling out 24 month warranties for mobile handsets supplied with 24 month service contracts.
The decision follows discussions with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
Unfortunately this decision doesn’t include Apple products such as the iPhone 4, which is taking another beating with word that third-party cases can cause the glass on the back of the device to unexpectedly shatter.
The ACCC isn’t impressed with Apple. “Although nearly all major handset manufacturers have agreed to honour full warranties, the ACCC continues to have concerns in relation to warranty issues with the Apple iPhone,” it said in a statement.
"Telstra has decided to do what's right and fair for consumers, and has been negotiating with manufacturers to bring in warranty periods that last for the length of a consumer's contract," ACCC Chairman Graeme Samuel said.
"This is a good outcome for consumers and Telstra should continue its negotiation process. The primary obligation to provide remedies rests on Telstra and not the mobile phone manufacturers. It is reasonable for consumers to expect that any phone they buy will last for the length of the service contract they enter into. In the EU, most consumer goods sold come with a minimum 24 month warranty."