IT corporations including Apple, Microsoft and Adobe will become the first companies to be forced to appear before a federal parliamentary inquiry after they allegedly frustrated efforts to get to the bottom of high prices paid by Australians for tech products.

The House Committee on Infrastructure and Communications has summonsed the three companies for a public hearing on March 22, which means they will be compelled to appear.

Nick Champion, chair of the IT pricing inquiry, has previously told parliament that the companies had "stonewalled" the inquiry, either hiding behind their industry association, which failed to answer key questions, or in the case of Apple only agreeing to give evidence confidentially.

Labor MP Ed Husic said compelling the companies to appear was an "important move" but one "we shouldn't have to take".

"These firms should have cooperated and been prepared to be more open and transparent about their pricing approaches," said Husic.