Apple adds bulletpoints for upcoming iPhone event

Apple has dramatically expanded the presence of iTunes in Europe, reports say. In addition to Poland, the iTunes Music Store is now accessible in 11 more European countries. The remainder of the list includes Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.

Initially the expansion was only anticipated to cover 10 regions. Apple has, moreover, broadened the reach of paid iBookstore titles to 26 more countries. Until recently only the US, UK, France, Germany, Australia and Canada could be selected for paid publishing under iTunes Connect options. The full list of new countries includes: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

While the growth should aid the profits of both Apple and distributors, and to a lesser extent musicians and writers, the short-term benefits will go mostly to Apple. Any deals were likely completed with an October 4th iPhone event in mind; Apple tends to speed up any content negotiations in advance of hardware announcements so it can simultaneously promote its own achievements and increase the consumer appeal of devices.

by MacNN Staff