German government demands '7 years of software update and repair support' from smartphone makers
The lifespan of smartphones is getting longer year by year, and even in Japan, where 'model change in 2 years' was the standard, many people use the same terminal for a long period of 3 or 4 years. However, the issues with long-term use of the same device are software update issues and whether repair services are available. Even if you want to use it for a long time, if the software update expires in 2 years, you will not be able to receive the latest apps and security, and if the repair service has expired, there is no way to repair it, and you have to change the terminal to a new one. lose. Smartphone makers offer different software update coverage and repair services, but it is clear that the German government is asking smartphone makers for a '7-year iPhone update and repair.'
Bundesregierung: Smartphones sollen sieben Jahre lang Updates erhalten | heise online
Germany wants Apple to offer iPhone updates and parts for 7 years | AppleInsider
https://appleinsider.com/articles/21/09/04/germany-wants-apple-to-offer-iphone-updates-and-parts-for-7-years
The European Commission (EC), the policy enforcement agency in the European Union (EU), has adopted draft rules to support consumers' 'right to repair' and for smartphones 'repair parts and software'. We plan to require manufacturers to provide update support for at least 5 years, and for tablets to provide repair parts and software update support for at least 6 years.
However, the German government has insisted on the EC that repairs and software updates should be handled for a minimum of seven years, according to reports from the German media heise online.
In addition to this, the German government also wants spare parts for repairs to be offered by manufacturers to third-party repairers at a 'reasonable price'. This request also includes requesting the smartphone manufacturer to announce the price of spare parts, and if the price of spare parts is announced, the repair price of terminals that have passed the time since their release will be unusually high. It seems that it will lead to prevent such a situation.
The EC also demands that spare parts for repairs be delivered 'up to 5 business days', while the German government wants parts to be delivered more quickly. In addition, the German government has revealed that it supports EC's plan to 'introduce a repairability index that shows how difficult it is to repair smartphones voluntarily.'
The German government wants to strengthen the 'right to repair' defined by EC, but smartphone makers want the opposite. Leading manufacturers such as Google, Samsung, and Apple have formed an industry group, Digital Europe , with 61 major technology companies to promote 'three years of security updates and two years of software updates' as the industry standard. Digital Europe also argues that components such as cameras and microphones rarely fail, and that we need to proactively provide frequently failed components such as batteries and displays.
The conflict between the EC and the manufacturer is deeper than I imagined, and the discussion between the two is ongoing for a long time. Therefore, the EU plans to announce a concrete plan for the right to repair smartphones by 2023.
At the national level, in April 2021, Spain obliged smartphone makers to 'sell products with a 3-year repair warranty,' extending the period of repair parts from 5 to 10 years. In July 2021, a law guaranteeing the 'right to repair' was enforced in the United Kingdom, but smartphones are not covered.
The UK enforces a law that guarantees the 'right to repair', but not for smartphones and laptops-GIGAZINE
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