Apple Music, iTunes movies, and iBooks are now available in China

Apple Inc has rolled out Apple Music, iTunes Movies and iBooks to China-based users, it announced in a press release today.

“We will absolutely establish and build relationships with the local music community”, said Cue, adding that Apple Music will try to discover artists and bring better music to customers.

So today’s launch of Apple Music in China marks a noteworthy step for the company as it continues to court the Middle Kingdom.

It is judgement day for Apple Music – three months on for its launch, its users must now decide whether to start paying for the steaming service.

After a three-month trial membership, Apple Music will cost 10 RMB per month, or about $1.60, which means it is the same price as a premium membership on Tencent’s QQ Music.

In a previous article posted in The Wall Street Journal, Counterpoint, a research firm, stated that Apple’s $9.99 per month subscription plan may catch customers from the West but not from the Asian countries.

This opens up China’s doors to a wealth of new content to devour and gives Apple a new market to chew on that is marked to be a billion strong. This may help Apple avoid the problems Google Music faced.

Apple Music will compete in China with numerous local services offering free access to songs.

It was only on Wednesday that the iPhone maker decided to make their iTunes, Movies and iBook services available for Chinese users, as well. Also available is iTunes Extras, with offer special features, like behind the scenes coverage of a few movies. It will also make the Chinese hit film ‘The Taking of Tiger Mountain’ available for free for a limited time.

The monthly subscription fee is 10 yuan (about United States dollars 1.5) and the family plan provides the service for 15 yuan for up to six members with individual accounts.

A selection of paid and free digital books in Chinese were on the shelves of the iBooks Store, according to Apple.