Israel\u00a0has banned imports of\u00a0Apple Inc.’s hottest new product, the\u00a0iPad, citing concerns the powerful gadget’s wireless signals could disrupt other devices.<\/p>\n
Customs officials said Thursday they have already confiscated about 10 of the lightweight tablet computers since Israel announced the new regulations this week. The ban prevents anyone \u2014 even tourists \u2014 from bringing iPads into Israel until officials certify that they comply with local transmitter standards.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0U.S. Federal Communications Commission\u00a0allows devices with Wi-Fi capability to broadcast at higher power levels than are allowed inEurope\u00a0and Israel \u2014 meaning that the iPad’s stronger signal could throw off others’ wireless connections, Schubert said.<\/p>\n
“If you operate equipment in a frequency band which is different from the others that operate on that frequency band, then there will be interference,” said Nati Schubert, a senior deputy director for the Communications Ministry. “We don’t care where people buy their equipment. … But without regulation, you would have chaos.”<\/p>\n
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Some Israelis successfully got the popular devices into Israel before the ban.<\/p>\n
Amnon, a\u00a0software developer\u00a0who legally brought an iPad into Israel but asked that his last name be withheld to avoid potential government repercussions, said he and other high-tech businessmen need the iPad to develop new applications for the device.<\/p>\n
“There are\u00a0several hundred people\u00a0in Israel who make their livelihood developing apps … and there are going to be companies that suffer, because they can’t deliver the services they’re supposed to be delivering,” he said.<\/p>\n
The iPad combines the features of a\u00a0notebook computer\u00a0with the touch-pad functions of the\u00a0iPod. It went on sale in the U.S. on April 3.\u00a0Apple\u00a0this week delayed its international launch until May 10, citing heavy sales in the U.S.<\/p>\n
Israeli officials said the ban has nothing to do with trade and is simply a precaution to assure that the iPad doesn’t affect wireless devices already in use in Israel.<\/p>\n
Although Israeli standards are similar to those in many European nations, Israel is the only country so far to officially ban imports.<\/p>\n
Schubert said he expects the problem to be resolved as Apple moves closer to the international release.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, confiscated iPads will be held by customs \u2014 for a daily storage fee \u2014 until their owners depart the country or ship the gadgets back to the U.S. at their own expense.<\/p>\n
Apple’s chief distributor in Israel, iDigital, declined to comment on the Communications Ministry’s decision, and messages left at Apple’s headquarters in California were not immediately returned.<\/p>\n