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ACCC ticks off TV makers over 'WiFi Ready' claims

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Five makers of TV and blue-ray players - Sony, LG, Panasonic, Samsung and Sharp have agreed to expand on or remove the terms 'WiFi Ready' and 'Wireless LAN Ready' from their promotional material after they failed to explain that WiFi connectivity required them to purchase an additional WiFi adaptor.

The ACCC said the companies "cooperated positively with the ACCC and changed their marketing practices to make sure they fully inform consumers about the WiFi accessibility of their products."

In some cases the cost of this device can exceed the cost of the equipment it is to be used with. The author purchased a blue-ray player and Internet set up box last Christmas from one of the named manufacturers for less than $100. The WiFi adaptor cost more than $150!
ACCC chairman Rod Sims said: "The ACCC considered that the term 'Ready', when used in promoting audiovisual products, is widely understood by consumers to mean the product is capable of accessing WiFi, without the need to purchase any further device...

"This is particularly the case when the terms 'WiFi Ready' or 'Wireless LAN Ready' appeared to be used on audiovisual products offering in-built WiFi adaptors as well as on products which required an additional device or dongle."

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Stuart Corner

 

Tracking the telecoms industry since 1989, Stuart has been awarded Journalist Of The Year by the Australian Telecommunications Users Group (twice) and by the Service Providers Action Network. In 2010 he received the 'Kester' lifetime achievement award in the Consensus IT Writers Awards and was made a Lifetime Member of the Telecommunications Society of Australia. He was born in the UK, came to Australia in 1980 and has been here ever since.

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