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Global iTunes Prices Show Disparities Between Countries

Global iTunes Prices Show Disparities Between Countries

February 1, 2011
Since Apple is an American company, currency fluctuations have no bearing on what users in the United States pay for items in iTunes. However, around the world there are true disparities. They are only made worse by how Apple sets global prices in the first place. According to MacStories, Apple uses two currency models; one for its older music store, and another for the App Store. Strangely, neither is tied to actual exchange rates, but rather on conservative predictions of the future value of a currency. While Apple’s “predictions” are much more reliable in its App Store, price differences remain. Consider the pricing of the top selling Angry Birds game. Priced at $.99 in the U.S., the game actually sells at a 40 percent premium in Japan. Meanwhile, in Mexico the game sells for 17 percent less than in the U.S.

Apple would be wise to take another look at how it sets prices in each of its stores. While no one expects them to make daily pricing changes based on currency fluctuations, their existing system needs revamping. As it stands now, consumers in some countries are paying a much higher price than those in other countries.

Mentioned apps

$0.99
Angry Birds
Angry Birds
Clickgamer.com

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