Apple France raided over claims that it gives resellers the cold shoulder

---

Few would doubt that Apple prioritizes its own stores -- they're ambassadors for the brand. However, France's Competition Authority has just raided Apple and its distributors over complaints that this preference comes at the expense of resellers. Recently bankrupt retailer eBizscuss claims that Apple both stalls on delivering products to third-party stores and denies those outlets any flexibility in pricing. In other words, it's allegedly impossible to compete fairly when Apple holds all the cards. We've reached out to Apple for comment, although the Competition Authority is so far willing only to confirm to Les Echos that the raids took place. Whether or not the searches lead to any substantive legal action, Apple may face extra heat in France -- the Authority is reportedly investigating accusations that the American firm unfairly hiked the minimum pricing for iBookstore periodicals.

RIP: Google Reader

We hope you've had time to say your goodbyes, because Google Reader bows out today, ending its eight-year existence. The search giant gave a two-month warning, with many users incensed that they'd be losing their defacto RSS reader -- their favorite way to absorb news and internet goings-on. We'd like to hear why Reader managed to pull in such a devoted following, so leave us your memories in the comments below and let us know which service you've moved your feeds to, because some of us haven't decided yet.

Vodafone launches a 4G mobile hotspot, suffers from premature dispensation

Camping outside a store for weeks on end has been done to death now, so what can you do to score some early adopter cred? How about buying a device to use on a service that doesn't exist... yet? That's Vodafone's thinking behind launching its first 4G wireless hotspot, two months before its LTE service begins rolling out. The Vodafone R212 will connect up to 10 devices simultaneously, comes with a 32GB SD card reader, a 2,800mAh battery and will, thankfully, connect to the company's 3G network as well. It'll set you back £39 up-front if you sign up for a plan offering you 1GB of monthly data for £10 a month.

Three UK simplifies pay-as-you-go tariff, offers data at 1p per MB

---

Three UK is tired of networks offering pay-as-you-go packages with numerous caveats and bolt-ons, and so has decided to go back to basics. The network is now offering a single tariff for all of its fair-weather mobile users, pricing calls at 3p per minute, texts at 2p per minute and data at 1p per MB. Three UK has also promised that your credit won't expire as long as you do something on the account once every six months. The change takes place from today, and existing customers will also be switched over to the new system -- just in time for that trip across the North Sea.

THREE GOES BACK TO BASICS ON PAY AS YOU GO: LAUNCHES GAME-CHANGING OFFER.
Simple rates and clear value of 3p a minute, 2p a text and 1p a MB.
Flexibility that lets you pay only for what you use without the need to convert your credit.
Today, Three launches a new simplified Pay As You Go offer with rates that will allow customers to top up and get great value across voice, text and internet use, paying only for the services they choose to use.
In a market with a confusing 179 Pay As You Go combinations currently available, Three customers now have the flexibility to use their top up as they choose based on clear and simple basic rates of:
- 3p a minute
- 2p a text
- 1p a MB of internet
Customers will not be forced to pick one value option over another. Pay As you Go price plans typically push people to make value trade-offs and choose between weekend or weekday use, UK or international calls, and use of texts, calls or data. Three's new approach puts an end to confusing tariffs and value trade-offs by bringing Pay As You Go back to its roots. There's no need to convert your credit to a 30-day add-on to get the best value. Credit lasts until the last penny is spent.
As the network built for the internet, Three's cost per MB provides significantly better value than competitors' standard rates.
Thomas Malleschitz, marketing director at Three said: "The number of complex Pay As You Go tariffs, Add-ons and options available is mindboggling. Consumers are forced into choosing where they want best value – whether that's calls, texts or internet. Our new rates strip things right back to basics with a simple, clear and transparent rate for calls, texts and internet use that offers clear value across the board. It's important to us that our Pay As You Go customers can use our Ultrafast network to chat, text and enjoy the internet without making a trade-off on value. This is Pay as You Go in its purest form."
Once customers top up, they can use credit for talking, texting and the internet, safe in the knowledge that if they send more emails than text one month they won't be penalised for doing the things they love on their smartphone.
Existing Three Pay As You Go customers can also enjoy Three's new rates without having to change their tariff and they will be able to use their remaining credit as they wish. "We're not just saving this for our new customers," added Malleschitz.