iTunes Store coming to Russia this month?
updated 10:20 am EDT, Mon April 14, 2008
Russian iTunes in April?
The iTunes Store may finally open to Russians later this month, a local publication claims. Billboard ads have been posted in multiple locations across Moscow, proclaiming "iSkoro 21.04.2008;" iSkoro translates to "iSoon," and the style of the ads are said to resemble Apple's iPhone packaging. In recent days similar websites are said to have been posted online as well, each proclaiming "iTunes Store Russia 21.04.2008." Crucially, imacintosh.ru lists its support e-mail as "rusupport@apple.com," and itunes-store.ru lists its contact as "support@apple.ru." The apple.ru domain actually belongs to Apple IMC, Russia's largest distributor of Apple products.
Russia is one of a number of prominent countries around the world without iTunes Store access, also including China and India. Introducing the iTunes Store to these places may be especially important for Apple, as while people can buy the likes of iPods in these locations, music revenue is being lost either to third-party stores or piracy.
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As of now no one got a confirmation if iTunes store will open in Russia on 21st of April. The only positive sign is the latest beta firmware for iPhone, which now has support for Russian language.