Malaysia among 12 in Apple’s Asia iTunes music, movies rollout

June 27, 2012

Steve Jobs introduces full-length, high resolution movie downloads from the iTunes website in San Francisco, California, September 12, 2006. — Reuters picSINGAPORE, June 27 — You may now buy digital music and movies from Apple’s iTunes Store.

Music and movies are a new addition to the iTunes Store for 12 countries in Asia, which include Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, Brunei, Philippines, Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Sri Lanka.

Users in these markets could only download and purchase apps from the iTunes Store previously.

Now they can buy a song for up to S$1.28 (RM3.20), rent a movie for S$4.98 or buy a high-definition movie for up to S$24.98 via the iTunes application on their computers or devices such as the Apple iPhone or iPad.

The iPhone-maker is also putting a spotlight on popular musicians from Asia on the online store — such as Singaporean songstress Corrine May, Korean pop group Wonder Girls and Thai band Potato — featuring their music and a selection of songs curated by them.

Rumours of Apple rolling out music and movies for more Asian countries were first reported on technology startup website e27 last week. The website noted that it “received a tip off from a trusted source in the industry that Apple is planning a secret launch event” on June 27 in Hong Kong.

Movies and music in the iTunes Store were available in 50 countries previously. However, the availability of television shows on it remain limited to countries like the United States, Australia, United Kingdom, France, Germany and Canada. — Today