The move follows the firm's decision to pull out of a green certification scheme designed to identify which electronic devices pose the least risk to the environment. CIO Journal reported the ban was designed to encourage Apple to reconsider. It noted local officials spent $45,579 (£29,365) on Apple equipment in 2010.

The sum is a fraction of the firm's $65bn net sales the same year, but the fact that its Cupertino headquarters is about 70km away from San Francisco (43 miles) and many of its staff live in the city have helped the act gain attention.

San Francisco's chief information officer told the BBC that his decision was in line with a long running policy to opt for equipment listed on the EPEAT (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool) registry.

"San Francisco has reached out to Apple and is hopeful that a solution to this challenge can be found in the future," said Jon Walton. But a statement from Apple suggested it had no plans to reverse its decision.

Source: BBC News