ITMS in Canada?
I'm very pleased to see the iTunes Music Store launched in the UK, France and Germany as I have friends in those countries who believed it would take forever. Still, why has ITMS not yet launched in Canada? It seems especially odd, as we get most of the new techology (most because we don't have the iPod mini yet) when it is announced in the States.
Anyone have an idea when Apple plans to correct this oversight?
Anyone have an idea when Apple plans to correct this oversight?
Comments
If it's legal, why would anyone want to pay for a song they can get for free (I know, i know, Karma and quality).
And of course, Canada's population make it a small market, getting even smaller with the legal issues.
As you say, it will probably come...but sadly they're not in any hurry.
Originally posted by satchmo
I think it may be a combination of the two reasons.
If it's legal, why would anyone want to pay for a song they can get for free (I know, i know, Karma and quality).
And of course, Canada's population make it a small market, getting even smaller with the legal issues.
As you say, it will probably come...but sadly they're not in any hurry.
apple has confirmed that iTMS canada is "on the radar." just be patient.
Originally posted by satchmo
I think it may be a combination of the two reasons.
If it's legal, why would anyone want to pay for a song they can get for free (I know, i know, Karma and quality).
And of course, Canada's population make it a small market, getting even smaller with the legal issues.
I agree, thanks to current laws in Canada, we can download anything we like and not worry about legalities. However, I'm getting a tad tired of going over the iTunes store catalog, thinking, 'hey, I'd like that', and then waiting for a hit on multiple p2p apps for the song. Karma aside, I'm willing to pay the buck to avoid the hassle of 'illegallly' downloading.
AOL is an Apple partner, and if I'm not mistaken, the iTMS is the preferred provider of music downloads on AOL in the U.S.
Yesterday, AOL Canada announced a partnership with Puretracks for music downloads.
If iTMS was close to launching here, AOL Canada would definitely know.
Not a good sign. Not at all.
Originally posted by Frank777
Yesterday, AOL Canada announced a partnership with Puretracks for music downloads.
That IS bad news, I investigated Puretracks when they first came out -- due mainly to a cool ad campaign -- and discovered that they don't use the mp3 format. I asked why and was told that they felt they'd have a wider audience among Windows users.
Looks like I'll be p2p'ing for a while, yet.
Originally posted by hmurchison
Candada= small market yet they seem to want to barain like their a large market.
<I'll ignore the typos>
Huh? Whose bargaining? There are no fewer than four download services up and running in Canada. Outside of a few devoted Apple fanatics like us, nobody's waiting to "bargain" with Apple. Apple is losing here, not Canada.
With regard to our "small size"...
Canada isn't yet up their with South Korea, but we've rolled out Cable and DSL far faster than you guys south of the border. Add to that the sheer size and spread of the population (which makes net shopping attractive) as well as the weather factor (who wants to go to the record store in January!) and it's clear music download sales in Canada can be very lucrative.
Anyway, in Canada it's legal to download music from p2p network, I don't know how iTMS will perform here.
Originally posted by Leonis
Puretrack is operated by Canadian company. Sometimes the governement gives priority to the "local" corporations.
The government isn't involved here. Apple has to negotiate with copyright associations.
Personally, I think they're taking a quiet stand against the Canadian legal situation. They're sending a message that the Government should outlaw P2P or they won't bring the iTMS north.
Apple has always been a vocal defender of copyrights.
Originally posted by Frank777
Personally, I think they're taking a quiet stand against the Canadian legal situation. They're sending a message that the Government should outlaw P2P or they won't bring the iTMS north.
Apple has always been a vocal defender of copyrights.
No offense to the rest, but I think that's the most intelligent analysis of the current situation. Canada is not a small market, I looked at the French site and the langauge doesn't stray from Quebequois french, so the language barrier is out..
No, I agree, this must be a legal issue; how can Apple expect to be competitive in a counrty where you can download from p2p without fear of the law?
Originally posted by Marc Grant
No, I agree, this must be a legal issue; how can Apple expect to be competitive in a counrty where you can download from p2p without fear of the law?
Not to mention all the bad karma that it brings.
The record labels just went after the service providers a few weeks ago and lost at the Supreme court level.
Their next plan of attack is to change the copyright laws.
So eventually, I suspect new legislation will finally make P2P illegal...but as you know with government, this ain't gonna happen quickly.
As long as that copyright levy is charged on blank cds and dvds, Canadians will download without fear. To change the law, the suits would have to give up the $30 million or so collected so far and forego any further cashgrab.
I wonder who'll end up with all that money?
It did not keep Apple from opening the iTMS over here. I guess it all depends on how big the countries stake in the international music market is.
Maybe the Canadian store will be similar to the pan-European store that Apple is set to open in October. I guess this means bad selection and no adaption to local interests and artists. Selection and recent material is still the number one constraint over here.
It seems, the European iTMSs are not regarded as full citizen compared to a physical music store as it is in the US.