non-American access to the iTunes Music Store?

May 2, 2004 6:14 PM

Is there any way for a non-American to finagle access to the iTunes Music Store? Does anyone have reliable information on when it might be available in Canada?
posted by timeistight to computers & internet (8 answers total)

This is not intended to be a snark, but are you aware of allofmp3.com?

...they don't care where you're from, as long as you have Paypal, and the selection is fairly large.
posted by aramaic at 6:49 PM on May 2, 2004

reliable, no, but there's this, and i know that Europe's getting it soon.
posted by amberglow at 7:21 PM on May 2, 2004

Isn't the restriction based on where your credit card billing address is? If so, you might be able to find someone who will let you use their credit card if you pay them back for your purchases via check, paypal, etc. Or if you are really dedicated you might even be able to set up your own credit card billed to a P.O. Box in the states. Actually, this might work.
posted by rorycberger at 10:00 PM on May 2, 2004

Aramaic... AllofMP3.com is not a properly licensed store and if you buy music from there you are ripping off the artists/labels (including many tiny independents) whose music is being used without payment. It's pretty much as bad as Kazaa because at least no money is changing hands for the music at Kazaa.

As for the main question, pre-paid cards are one answer. That's how I use the iTunes Store from the UK. Mastercard and other companies do pre-paid credit cards; you get a friend in the USA to sign up for one, putting you as the main or second name on the card. (The cards can be purchased at 7-11 and other such stores). Once purchased you can charge them up online.

Incidentally some of the other US legal music stores let you insert a foreign credit card, usually by inserting a false address or saying you're a member of the US Forces. Napster seems to be harder because they block access by IP.
posted by skylar at 1:09 AM on May 3, 2004

When the iTMS started, I was in Paris at the time. I had a US credit card, billing address, .mac registration with US address... and no joy.

What I did is the next time I was in the US, I started the account and the next time I was connected to the internet in France I was able to access my account.

(Note: connection was always with same Powerbook, purchased in the US.)
posted by Dick Paris at 6:15 AM on May 3, 2004

If you've got an AOL account and and AOL wallet, you can purchase iTunes songs in Canada.

There's also Canadian based Puretracks.com.
posted by will at 7:37 AM on May 3, 2004

You know that it's probably not illegal to download music for free off things like Kazaa in Canada, right?

http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0402/p06s01-woam.html
posted by Capn at 7:46 AM on May 3, 2004

Good question, timeistight... I've been wondering the same thing. Anyone have any news on a Canadian launch?
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 8:45 AM on May 3, 2004