[Putta]

Not sure if this is the right place to post this, but I really did look around and seeing as it is the *iTunes* music store, this seems as appropriate as anywhere else.

Anyway, I am just windering about the gift certificates and whether they represent a way for international users to access the iTMS??

The reason I ask is that you don't actually need an iTMS account. I read somewhere that if you say get a certificate for $10 and you want to purchase an album of say $11.99, you need to open an iTMS account to pay the difference.

Anyway, I am thinking that in this way, you can just give someone in the US you know some money and have them send you a gift certificate. That way the music is in your account as it were and you have full control over it.

Anyone any ideas if this won't work?

Cheers,

Rohan

[Parky]

I had the exact same question, do certificates only work in the USA?

I suppose Apple could check the origin of the .Mac account and see what country it was purchased in, they could use that as the limiting factor.

This does fall down though if a USA .Mac account owner buys an additional email address for $10, and lets someone outside the USa use it. That is perfectly within the .Mac user rules.

Then I presume the non USA .Mac email address could have iTMS gift certificates or allowances sent to it, making it possible to 'buy' music outside the USA.

I'm not sure if the iTMS software does other checks for where you are, can they tell if your computer is outside the USA?

If it is possible using a new .Mac email address as above or with any .Mac address I would be very interested in getting together with a USA iTunes user to set up an allowance that I could use.

Ian

[Jim_MDP]

Originally posted by Parky:

I'm not sure if the iTMS software does other checks for where you are, can they tell if your computer is outside the USA?

Ian

But it might check the 'authorized' status of the machine.

How you gonna square that with your American buddy?

[Parky]

I don't think that a machine you use certificates on will form part of the 3 machines limit.

As the music is in effect bought by the recipient of the gift certificate, they will be the first machine of the 3. They can then use it just like any other iTMS Music, copy to 2 other machines, unlimited iPods, etc, etc.

I believe the machine is 'authorised' when you download the music onto it.

It would be a bit of a poor service if you could only buy gift certificates for your 3 'authorised' machines, what would be the point of that. It's hardly going to drive up sales.

The gift certificate or allowance just gives a .Mac user, who does not have any registered Credit card details (and therefore no country information) an amount of credit on ITMS.

This money can be spent on anything, the music bought belongs to the user of the certificate, it is in no way linked back to the buyer of the certificate.

I have just read the details of the Gift Certificate scheme, it does say that it is US only. It also states that it can be used by anyone with an email address, it does not need to be a .Mac address either.

I wish someone would use the service and let us all know what checks take place, and if the US only restriction is actually applied.

Ian

[sandsl]

So, who wants to send me a gift certificate ?

I'm in the UK, so I'd love to try iTMS out. All certificates to my e-mail address

[Parky]

mmmmmmmmmm not many offers of help then !

[Putta]

OK, am on the case. Have emailed afriend in florida asking him to open an account and send me a $10 gift certificate.

Will of course post back with my comments folks.

Cheers,

Rohan

PS Of course, as with the previous poster I would be willing to accept a certificate from anyone. For research of course ;-)

[Parky]

Thanks, I will be interested to know the result.

Ian

[Mediaman_12]

If this is successful the these 'gifts' are going to become very popular. If only eBay allowed 'virtual/electronic' items.