Apple has come under fire in France, with an official investigation underway after 10 people now claim the glass screens of their iPhones exploded in their hands.
French mobile carrier Orange has received word from two other iPhone customers regarding an alleged malfunction, but Apple has defended its products and labels the faults as “isolated incidents”.
According to French news agency AFP, 10 iPhone users claim their gadgets exploded or cracked, with one 80-year-old saying the device fell apart in his hands.
“I went out shopping, with my iPhone in my left pocket, when I suddenly felt it heat up and start vibrating – even though I never use the vibrate setting,” he told AFP. “I took it out of my pocket and held it to my ear and saw the screen crack up like a car windscreen.”
His claim comes just one day after security guard Yassine Bouhadi said his iPhone screen exploded while he was using it, with the explosion allegedly leaving shards of glass in his eye.
“I want an explanation about this damned telephone,” Bouhadi said. He also demands a full refund, and intends to pursue legal action.
But the incidents have now reached the French Government, with the official competition and fraud watchdog, the DGCCRF, saying it has opened an investigation due to the large number of claims.
“An investigation is under way. We have been alerted to the problem and we are looking into it closely,” a spokesperson said.
The French consumer rights group UFC-Que Choisir has also called out for Apple to be clear with its customers about what is happening, and what it intends to do to rectify the situation.
“We want to know if this is an isolated incident as they claim, or a real problem involving the iPhone – in which case, what are they planning by way of compensation and to prevent it happening again?”
Meanwhile, European Commission spokesperson Helen Kearns attempted to play down fears of a widespread problem at a news conference, saying there will be no need for a product recall just yet.
“We’re not there yet. We just need to monitor closely now and see if these are isolated incidents…We’ll be vigilant and if necessary we’ll take further actions. But we need to examine the situation better.”
“Apple have come back to us, and what they’ve said is that they consider these are isolated incidents. They don’t consider that there’s a general problem.”
Apple Europe head of communications Alan Hely told the AFP the company is investigating the matter, but cannot offer more details until a full inspection of the phones can begin.
“We are aware of these reports and we are waiting to receive the iPhones from the customers. Until we have the full details, we don’t have anything further to add,” he said.
Patrick Stafford is a freelance journalist and a former deputy editor of SmartCompany.
