Apple eyes Japanese market

Apple is aiming to seize more of Japan's download music market, according to one report, as the company recently offered free iTunes Music Store downloads to fans at a popular music festival in Tokyo. Fans who attended the concert to see the Arctic Monkeys and Metallica received three free iTunes downloads, signaling Apple's attempt to lure Japanese customers away from mobile music transfers, according to Reuters. "iTunes faces a dramatically different situation in Japan compared to other markets," Gerhard Fasol said, president of Eurotechnology K.K. in Tokyo. "iTunes is a very strong player in the market for downloads to PCs, Macs and iPods, but that makes up a small portion of the online music downloads [in Japan]." Apple is offering prepaid iTunes cards in convenience stores for Japanese customers who remain reluctant to purchase songs over the internet, and for individuals who don't own a credit card.

Japan's mobile phone download market totaled $320 million in 2005, but many of those purchases could shift to online downloads in the future.

Apple is also expected to debut its own mobile phone capable of playing music and video as early as tomorrow. The company recently announced a highly anticipated special event via an invitation featuring the Apple logo amidst Hollywood spotlights and the phrase "It's Showtime." Special events scheduled by Apple historically signify major product announcements, as well as the launch of new services.

Suspicions of a new handheld device are backed by a recent patent filing, as well as statements from at least one industry analyst. Industry watchers also expect the iPod-maker to unveil full-length feature film downloads from its iTunes Music Store, and anticipate a new widescreen video iPod capable of playing those full-length films on-the-go.

by MacNN Staff