Alternative iTunes store account method

This one is an alternative to Xander's method. For this one you need a credit card, but it is aimed at people who don't live in the US and want to use the US store for it's broader content, or for people who live in a country that doesn't have an iTunes store.

Anyway here's what I did:

1. Sign up for a US paypal account and choose a Personal Account for Online. Now, you should enter your name because it has to match your credit card, but the rest of the information has to be US based. You can do this by making one up, Paypal doesn't really know the difference between 456 lol ave or 21 main st. You can use the popular 90210 postal code if you desire, but then you would have to use California as your state. If you prefer you could also go to 411.com and search for "John Smith" for example, from there it is easy to use anyone's address and phone number. I should add though, that I'd recommend to use an address of a relative instead, which is what I did; using this info is pretty harmless, my aunt told me that apple or paypal haven't called her once since I signed up.
   
   
2. Add and verify your credit card with the same information you used when creating your paypal account. Adding it is the easy part, but to verify Paypal will bill you $1.95 to the credit card you added, which should appear in your online banking statement within 3 business days. I know, $1.95, but to me it was the only way to purchase legal music, tv shows, or movies, since where I live (Venezuela), doesn't have an iTunes store. And if you think about it, it's just a bus fare
   
   Anyway, included with Paypal's charge (in your online statement), is a 4-digit code, which is your expanded use number, which you will have to input inside your paypal account to complete your verification. This is easy, just go to your profile, then your credit card.
   
   
3. Create an iTunes store account with the same information you used for Paypal, and voila. Purchase to your heart's content!

Even though this method is a little unorthodox and takes quite a while (3 days depending on how fast your bill is processed) it was the ONLY thing that worked for me, so if you live outside the US, in a country where there is no iTunes store, and want to purchase legal stuff, this is the only way to go, at least until apple makes a worldwide store.

cheerio!

 

Interesting for sure, 00fez...I live in Canada, and being in Canada and getting an iPod Nano, Video or Touch isn't as "motivating", as the iTunes Store still lacks movies and TV shows.

 

Hrm, I'd rather go with giving my CC to Apple. Paypal accounts are far more likely to be hacked than Apple accounts if even 1% of all the horror stories out there are true.

 

I thought anyone could access the U.S. iTunes Store. Can't you just select "United States" as "My Store"? Or is it that you can access the store, but still can't make purchases without U.S. billing information?

 

Yes, you can access it but you can't purchase anything from it. You can see the iTunes US Store but not buy from it, because when you change iTunes Stores you automatically log out of your account, and when you log back in you will get a message saying your account is only authorized for Canadian purchases, and takes you back to iTunes Canada.

 

it's the billing info, as you guessed.

I can put in bogus billing info, but the credit card companys don't care for that kind of thing (non matching owner and billing addresses, separated by country), I would be likely to have to spend half an hour on the phone to get it to work (and even then it might not, depending on company policy).

The issue is of course not if can be made to work by tricks, but that it should "just work", at least neccessary features (if not the whole store.

I mean I can easily buy the same music on CD from amazon and it's no hassle at all. Why should buying a non physical version of same data be so complicated.
Of course, while most of the world has no access to legal downloads they'll just have to use other methods.....
Tying itunes into the ITMS paid database for album covers and track info is, IMO, just plain silly.

Yes I have opinions...

 

Not to stray the thread offtime, but... Paypal freezes accounts after several failed login attempts for your protection. The primary reason a Paypal account gets hijacked is if the user falls victim to phishing scams. You should always user a seperate, stronge password for ANY site that involves money; keep it seperate from any other password.