Apple opens-up iTunes Store and iBookstore to other European countries ahead of iPhone 5 announcement

Apple has expanded the availability of the iTunes Store to 12 more countries in the European Union (EU). This now means that iTunes users in all 27 member states can make purchases on the digital media store.

Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia can now make music and movie purchases, in addition to the previously available ability to purchase iOS apps. Apple now allows media purchases through the iTunes Store in 36 countries in total.

In similar news, Apple is said to be expanding its iBook market by allowing book purchases in 25 more European countries. Would-be users in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luzembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and Switzerland will soon be able to make book purchases from the iBookstore. Currently only users in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the UK and the US can make purchases on this store.

With the expanding ability to make digital content purchases across Europe, Apple would seem to be readying under-tapped markets ahead of next Tuesday’s iPhone 5 announcement.

Image courtesy of iMaffo on Flickr.