Minister of Communications Moshe Kahlon has ordered the ministry to permit personal imports of the iPad, and the release of scores of confiscated iPads. The order came after the Ministry of Communications' staff last week completed technical tests on the iPad vis-à-vis its manufacturer, Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL), European authorities, and an authorized international laboratory.
Ten days ago, the Ministry of Communications announced, "Because the Israeli Wi-Fi standard is similar to the European standard, which is different from the US standard, and allows transmissions at lower power, the transmission power of the device prevents approval for its use in Israel."
Yesterday's new announcement by the ministry states that the tests on the iPad's operating systems proved to the ministry's technical staff that the device identifies the access points in its environment, and automatically adapts to them. Therefore, operation of the iPad in Israel will comply with the technical features permitted for use in Israel.
The Ministry of Communications said that it would continue to verify, as it has done for years, that wireless devices imported to Israel are suitable for use by the general public, irrespective of the type or brand of the device.
The ministry notified customs of its decision this morning, which will allow individuals to bring one iPad per person into Israel.
The Ministry of Communications' iPad fiasco made news around the world. "The Atlantic" commentator Jeffrey Goldberg wrote ironically in his blog, "I've always been under the impression that Steve Jobs is more dangerous [to Israel] than Hezbollah."
Apple's Israeli representative iDigital Ltd. welcomed the Ministry of Communications' decision allowing the import of iPads. iDigital said that it will launch iPad sales in Israel in a few months.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on April 25, 2010
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