U.S. Import Ban on Older iPhones Overturned

Apple Inc may continue to import and sell certain older iPads and iPhones made to use on AT&T's network, U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman said on Saturday in overturning a ban issued by a trade panel.

Froman overturned a June decision by the International Trade Commission, which ruled that some Apple products infringed a patent owned by Samsung Electronics and ordered Apple to stop selling the popular devices.

"This decision is based on my review of the various policy considerations ... as they relate to the effect on competitive conditions in the U.S. economy and the effect on U.S. consumers," Froman said in his decision.

The U.S. ITC said that Apple had infringed on a Samsung patent that allows the ability of devices to transmit multiple services simultaneously and correctly through 3G wireless technology.

The iPhone accounts for about half of Apple's revenue. While the company doesn't disclose sales data on individual smartphones and tablet models, the current version of the iPhone typically accounts for the biggest chunk of iPhone shipments of more than 100 million units annually.

The case at the International Trade Commission was No. 337-794.