New Delhi, 23 Jan

Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) on Thursday issued notices to tech giant Apple Inc and cab aggregators Ola and Uber following consumer complaints about software performance and pricing disparities, Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Thursday.

On 8 November, 2024, Salar News was the first to report the differential pricing on everyday apps such as Uber and Ola on iOS and Android phones in the article ‘Hidden costs of iOS: Apple users paying more for everyday apps’. The issue soon made headlines nationwide.

When Salar News booked a 5km ride in Bengaluru, the fare for an Uber Auto was Rs 154 on an iPhone, compared to just Rs 121 on an Android device for the same trip. Similarly, flight and hotel bookings on apps such as MakeMyTrip and Yatra can cost at least 10 per cent more on iOS than on Android.

Joshi had earlier termed this practice a "prima facie unfair trade practice" and a "blatant disregard" for consumer rights.

The minister stressed the government's "zero tolerance for consumer exploitation" and directed the CCPA to conduct a thorough investigation into the allegations.

In October last year, a social media post by an X user, Saurabh Sharma, highlighted similar discrepancies on Flipkart, where the price of the same product — a Mokobara cabin suitcase — was higher on iOS than on Android. "Android vs iOS – different prices on Flipkart app. Same Mokobara cabin suitcase costs Rs 4,119 on Flipkart's android app vs Rs 4,799 on iOS app," Sharma had written, sharing screenshots to back his claim.  

Meanwhile, commenting on the development, an Uber spokesperson said: “We do not set prices based on a rider's phone manufacturer."

Comments from Apple and Ola, were not immediately available.