Australia Investigating Higher Apple Product Pricing

Australia’s Parliament has launched an investigation into Apple’s pricing structure in the country over concerns that the Mac and iPhone maker is artificially inflating its prices. The government is looking to find out why App Store prices in Australia are substantially higher when compared to other countries, as are hardware prices, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

“There is evidence to suggest that the innovative use of technology is not always matched with innovative new business models in the case of products and services distributed online,” said Minister for Communications Stephen Conroy.

Australia thinks Apple overcharges customersAustralia thinks Apple overcharges customers

Apple, however, isn’t being singled out. Microsoft and other technology-related companies are being included in the investigation, too. Adobe may have been the company that finally pushed the government into the investigation when it announced that its Creative Suite 6 software would cost up to AU$1,400 more in Australia than in the United States.

Software and hardware routinely cost more in Australia than other countries, and the government doesn’t think that’s fair to consumers. In many cases, companies claim Australia is a small market, which drives prices up.

Locals, however, don’t seem to agree with that argument. “People here scratch their heads trying to work out why they get fleeced on software downloads,” commented Sydney MP Ed Husic.

Apple has not commented on the investigation.