UPDATE: Antitrust ready for truce if Apple admits guilt for price setting

(Adds comments on iPhone 7, 7 Plus in last two paragraphs)

MOSCOW, Feb 2 (PRIME) -- Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service is still investigating an alleged iPhone price coordination by Apple on the local market and is ready for an amicable agreement if the U.S. company admits guilt, the authority’s Deputy Director Andrei Tsarikovsky said Thursday at a news conference.

“Intense scrutiny on the case is well under way. We’re collecting all documents, meeting with people from various organizations, including those related to sales of Apple’s products. Many of them are ready to discuss possible options of talks,” Tsarikovsky said.

“We’re always ready for negotiations. It’s a general approach of the Federal Antimonopoly Service. If the guilt is admitted and violations are mended, we’re ready to sign all public agreements officially.”

The antitrust service opened the case against Apple over signs of price coordination for the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus in August 2016. The investigation proved that the bulk of local resellers had set the same prices for the devices from the start of sales and held them for some time.

If found guilty, Apple could face a fine of 1 million to 5 million rubles.

The service also saw equal prices of other Apple’s smartphones, including the new flagship iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, but said later that the U.S. company did not resist the scrutiny.

Tsarikovsky said the check of the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus price formation will be completed by the end of February.

“We’re gathering a huge volume of information and are beginning to process it,” he said.

(60.3099 rubles – U.S. $1)

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