ROME, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Italian Anti-Trust Authority said Thursday it has begun proceedings against Apple and Samsung for unfair trade practices in Italy.

The move to investigate the electronics giants came following consumer complaints about their smartphones, the authority said in a statement.

The regulator said that after a preliminary investigation, it found the two companies engaged in "an overall trade policy designed to exploit the shortcomings" of some of their smartphone components.

This was done to "reduce product performance and induce consumers to purchase new versions" of their phones.

As well, the two companies failed to "provide enough information for the maintenance of adequate performance levels of the devices, which were promoted and purchased based on their specific and elevated technological characteristics," the regulator explained.

Apple and Samsung also advised consumers to accept software upgrades without adequately informing them as to their possible consequences, the statement said.

The Authority said it has sent inspectors to Apple and Samsung company premises in Italy, with the aid of police anti-trust and tech fraud units.