After launching iTunes Pass in Japan yesterday, Apple has now rolled out the service for customers in the U.S. as first spotted by iPhoneHacks and in Australia, as noted by 9to5Mac. Update: Also live in Canada.
The new service basically lets you refill your iTunes Account at any Apple Retail store, utilizing an iTunes Pass card within Passbook. You tell an Apple Specialist how much you want to fund, fork over the cash and they’ll scan your pass to credit your account.
The service looks to target those who fund their iTunes Accounts with cash instead of credit cards. iTunes Cards are available at most major retailers but if you just happen to be at the Apple Store and want to refill your account in an interactive way, this looks like an interesting (yet somewhat complicated) way to do it.
Given the launch in the U.S. and Australia, the service would most likely launch in Canada soon. But then again, being Canadian you just never know when it comes to the latest things tech-wise (at least we have ketchup chips?).
Update: Looks like iTunes Pass is live in Canada, as users have been able to create a card and add it to Passbook, as we can confirm in the screenshots below (thanks Drew and Paul S.):
Just open the App Store, tap ‘Redeem’ and then follow the prompts to add the iTunes Pass to Passbook. Let us know if you’re able to refill your iTunes Account with this the next time you visit a retail store!
Update July 17: Apple Canada’s website has been updated to officially note support for iTunes Pass.
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It’s launched in Canada too! At least I was able to add a pass using my Canadian iTunes account.
Thanks Paul, updated! Let us know if you are able to use it at a retail store.
a pass can only be added if there is a balance on it correct? because i seem unable to do so otherwise
I added my pass with no funds on it from my Canadian account.
i figured it out, thanks tho
I have to go to the Apple Store to do this? Waste of my time if I am not going to the Apple Store. Why does Apple not let you add a debit card to your iTunes account. Let me make purchases either by debit or credit card. Better yet, let me add multiple credit cards and let me choose which card (debit or one of my credit cards) I want to use in the Apple Store, in iTunes, etc…
There is no way I am ever going to pay full price for iTunes credit in Canada when it’s easy to find the cards on sale from time-to-time. Having said that, the iTunes Pass is a faster way to check your balance than going through iTunes.
Here’s a new angle… If you also have a US iTunes account, this is another way to top up your US balance. You can have both appearing in your Passbook (after selecting the iTunes card in the list, you swipe left or right to see both cards).