Channel Register®

Original URL: http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2005/04/06/apple_japan_mobile_store/

Apple Japan opens buy-by-phone iPod shop

Still no Music Store, though

By Tony Smith

Posted in PC Builder, 6th April 2005 11:15 GMT

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Apple's Japanese operation may be taking its time [1] launching a local version of the Mac maker's iTunes Music Store, but eager iPod buyers can at least now order one of the company's music players using only their mobile phones.

Apple Japan's Mobile Store (pic courtesy of IT Media)The Apple Store Mobile [2] is accessible through a dozen AU and NTT handsets - actually, it's on the web, but the server won't let you through unless you're running the right kind of browser. Clicking the above link from the right kind of hardware takes you to a pared down version of the Apple Store, laid out for mobile phone display sizes.

On sale on the small-screen site are the regular iPod, and the Shuffle, Mini and Photo versions of the player, along with a range of accessories to go with them all. The mobile store also offers the Mac Mini, Japanese-language website IT Media reports [3].

Last Autumn, it emerged that local label resistance to Apple Japan's "inadequate" DRM technology was hampering the company's plan to roll out a version of ITMS for the country. ®

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Phone DRM too expensive, say carriers [5]
Griffin launches iVault to encase iPod Shuffle [6]
Matsushita readies iTunes-friendly music player [7]
An MP3 player you can talk to... [8]
Sony Japan dumps lock-down CDs [9]
iTunes Japan hits 'inadequate DRM' hurdle [10]