iTunes Japan gets ringtones, 3G shopping, other features
updated 11:55 am EST, Wed February 22, 2012
iTunes Match coming in second half of 2012
The Japanese iTunes Store has gained several other features in addition to iTunes in the Cloud, Apple has announced. This includes access to ringtones, downloading music over 3G instead of just Wi-Fi, and the Complete My Album option. All music on the store is now in iTunes Plus quality, meaning DRM-free, 256kbps AAC files. In some cases, tracks have been specifically mastered for iTunes.
Apple’s senior iTunes director for the Asia, Pacific, and Canada region, Peter Lowe, tells AV Watch that iTunes Match should arrive in Japan in the second half of 2012. "We are keeping good relationship with Japanese music publishers," he comments. New to the iTunes Store's music selection are Western Sony Music artists, such as Michael Jackson and Sade.
