France Temporarily Bans iPhone 12 Sales Over Radio-Frequency Emission Concerns
In a surprising turn of events, France temporarily banned the sales of the highly anticipated iPhone 12 in September. The reason? Testing revealed that the iPhone 12 exceeded the legal limit for on-body emissions of radio-frequency electromagnetic fields.
The specific absorption rate (SAR) is a crucial factor in determining the potential harm caused by electromagnetic fields to the human body. It refers to the amount of energy absorbed by the body from these fields. In this case, the iPhone 12 failed to meet the on-body SAR limits set by French regulations.
Tech giant Apple, however, defended its product, arguing that the iPhone 12 met the SAR limits when worn or carried, thanks to its on-body detection and transmission power adjustment features. Apple believed that the testing conducted by the Agence nationale des fréquences (ANFR), which tested the iPhone 12 off-body on a static surface, was not a fair representation of real-life usage.
Interestingly, the ban struck just as Apple was planning to halt sales of the iPhone 12 in France anyway. Nevertheless, the incident drew attention to the need for compliance with regulations regarding SAR limits.
Recognizing the concerns raised by French regulators, Apple swiftly developed a software fix to comply with the specific ANFR test protocol. On September 29th, French authorities approved the fix, marking a significant step towards resuming the sales of the iPhone 12 in the country.
The fix will be introduced with the release of iOS 17.1, allowing Apple to legally sell its popular smartphone once again in France. This development has been closely followed by other European countries, as the outcome of this situation could potentially affect the sales and regulations of smartphones across the continent.
While the ban served as a stark reminder of the importance of adhering to SAR limits and the potential health risks associated with radio-frequency emissions, it also highlighted the capacity of companies like Apple to quickly respond to regulatory concerns and find solutions.
As the iPhone 12 gets back on the shelves in France, users can feel more assured that they are using a product that complies with the necessary regulations for electromagnetic field emissions.
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