Greenlights wireless tech

The Israeli government has removed a short-lived hold on iPad imports, according to IDG News. The device was blocked on the basis that it might not conform to local and/or European Wi-Fi standards. IDG adds that one Israeli legislator suggested the tablet might interfere with military frequencies.

Israel's Ministry of Communications now states though that after "scrutiny conducted by the Ministry technical team vis-à-vis Apple's team, international laboratory and European counterparts," the first wave of iPads -- originally intended only for the US -- are safe for sale in the country. The ban has in some cases been viewed with suspicion, as people have had no problem importing iPads into Europe. One Apple importer, Boaz Ordan, notes that the official Apple reseller for Israel, iDigital, may have wanted to artificially restrict the gray market before a local tablet could launched. iDigital is owned by the son of the country's president, Shimon Peres.

by MacNN Staff