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A few Apple customers were pretty annoyed when they discovered the WiFi Assist feature within iOS 9. The feature comes switched on by default and switches out your WiFi signal with 3G or 4G when it gets too weak. As a result of this happening, some customers found themselves using more data than they thought and in some cases, going over their contract caps.
The lawsuit (Via: Apple Insider) was filed in a US District Court, the two plaintiffs are seeking $5 million. The lawsuit also claims that Apple is downplaying the possibility of unexpected data charges for those that use the WiFi Assist feature in iOS 9.
“Reasonable and average consumers use their iPhones for streaming of music, videos, and running various applications — all of which can use significant data. Defendant's corrective statement does not disclose any basis for its conclusion that an average consumer would not see much increase in cellular usage.”
The WiFi Assist feature can be found in the settings app and is easy enough to switch off. The main issue people seem to be having is that they did not know that it came switched on by default. Apple hasn't really issued any public comment on the WiFi Assist controversy at this time.
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KitGuru Says: I'm not surprised that someone decided to file a lawsuit against Apple for unexpected data charges caused by WiFi Assist. Though I'm not sure how likely they are to win when faced with Apple's legal team.
as always apple use dirty tricks to try and create the illusion of speed in their devices…
Dirty tricks? You know that Apple has nothing to do with your 3G, 4G and especially your WiFi speeds, right? It’s a good feature, people that couldn’t care enough to check if it’s on or off are at their own fault, really.
I thoroughly disagree, for I personally did not even know of its existence. I’m not a hardcore apple tech guy that keeps track of every single detailed addition whenever a new OS comes out and I should not be forced to if I want to keep my bills low.
I found out the hard way when I got slapped with a cruel monthly payment caused by Wifi assist. That’s where I looked it up and shut it down. This new feature should not be switched on from the start, but should rather lay dormant. Far too many people do not even know it’s there, while it slowly chips away on your monthly bandwidth.
I take iPhones to bits in my sleep, I’m on the iOS public beta program and I didn’t notice it either.
If you don’t care enough to check what’s in the OS update I think it’s better for you to not update on the first days. If you are udating for the sake of updating it’s your own ignorance that caused you to have a higher monthly bill, not Apple.
You make it really easy to disagree with. Of course I’m interested to see what’s in the update, and I did. It was the list apple published so that people could see the new features. But those are only the major new features. Wifi assist was not in there. Ergo, well over 90% of all apple users who can be arsed looking up every single detail that has been added were potentially slapped in the face with the great new wifi assist feature.
If you are updating for the sake of updating? What kind of stupid argument is that? I really wonder who’s updating for a different reason. I can pretty much assure you taht 95% of all users will update to a new OS just because the OS is newer. The word ‘update’ implies that aspects have been reworked and potentially improved. You might want to look up the definition of updating and stop being a hypocrite when it comes to ignorance. Some general knowledge about consumer behaviour would be good for you as well. As, frankly enough, not everyone is a tech savy.
And how exactly does this go against my first comment?
Apple claims “update makes interwhebz fasters”.
In fact use cellular hack that they know 90% of users dont know enough about to check and set to their own preference.