Kiwis miss out on iTunes

Apple has snubbed local iPod owners by opening an iTunes online music download store in Australia, leaving New Zealand as one of the few English-speaking countries without the popular service.

A New Zealand iTunes store had been eagerly awaited by local owners of the portable music player for months, who expected it to piggy-back on an Australian opening. Apple opened its Australian store early Tuesday morning - its 22nd globally - but did not make it available to users across the Tasman.

A spokeswoman for Apple Computer Australia said there were no plans for a New Zealand store. She would not give a reason.

However, New Zealanders with Australian credit cards and billing addresses can use the service.

The online iTunes store allows iPod owners to legally download music for a fee. The Australian store features more than 1 million songs and about 1000 music videos for download. Songs are available for A$1.69 ($1.81), albums for A$16.99 and music videos for A$3.39.

Not to be outdone, local download store Digirama yesterday announced a deal with EMI Music New Zealand - which manages artists such as Coldplay, Robbie Williams and the Finn Brothers - that will add 30,000 tracks to its site as of next week.