Several US law firms have launched a class-action lawsuit against Apple and a number of other companies including Samsung and HTC over privacy concerns arising from the data-logging sofware Carrier IQ.

The companies involved have been accused of “uprecedented breach in the digital privacy rights of 150 million cell phone users” according to the lawsuit, which was filed in a Delaware federal court.

A number of wireless carriers including AT&T, Spring and T-Mobile have also been implicated for selling and supporting smartphones that included the Carrier IQ software.

Apple responded last week to complaints regarding Carrier IQ with a statement that confirmed that elements of the so-called tracking software remain in iOS 5, but will be removed entirely with future updates.