ipod touch upgrade itunes store

Even though Apple charges a $19.99 fee for the newest iPod Touch firmware upgrade, there are a lot of takers. Having Mail, Maps and other goodies like Stocks, Weather and, at last, Notes on an MP3 player, but around the world people have been complaining that they cannot upgrade their iPod Touches. They have the money, it’s just that the Apple iTunes Store is not available in their area. Let’s see. The iTunes Store is available in the following territories:

  • U.S., Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Republic of the Philippines, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom

If you do not have a billing address in any of these countries, Apple will not let you purchase anything from the iTunes Store. Amazingly, all of Latin America is out. That means, even if you live in Puerto Rico, which is just a boat ride away from the U.S. and even Mexico (just across the border of the Apple base country), you cannot get have an iPod Touch with Maps and Mail. In Asia, though the iTunes Store is available in Japan and the Philippines, it is not available in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia nor Mainland China. Now, I can understand Apple’s reluctance to sell to China, but Taiwan and Singapore?

Looks like it’s time for Apple should check their own Maps application.

Check out Hong Kong’s Victor Heung’s complain about iTunes Store non-availability in his home.