Is this a glitch or just a stupid feature?

[Macman1993]

I cannot connect to the iTunes store on my 3g using just data connection it wants a wifi network is this a glitch, or just a stupid feature of the mobile iTunes store?

[wackymacky]

I cannot connect to the iTunes store on my 3g using just data connection it wants a wifi network is this a glitch, or just a stupid feature of the mobile iTunes store?

iTune/Apps Store only works via WifFi connection.

[Macman1993]

That's one of the dumbest things Ive ever heard and btw the app store doesn't need wifi to work so y should iTunes be different

[gibbz]

App Store is selling products directly in control by Apple. iTunes is selling products from the music industry that have had certain licenses agreed upon. I believe Apple would have to renegotiate with the music industry to allow downloads over data networks. Not sure if AT&T is a player as well.

[Macman1993]

That makes perfect sence now that you mention it thanks man that takes all my frustration away, maybe some day we can do that over data connection alone.

[gibbz]

No worries. I found it to be annoying as well. It would be nice to be able to download a song whenever instead of relying on a WiFi hotspot. Oh well, I guess these big executives know best :rolleyes:

[pedroistheman]

no, you can access the app store via 3G connection but the iTunes music app won't load unless you're on WIFI...kind of annoying---you would think that one song would be easier to download than an entire application. On another note, I wish you could rent/buy video content from iTunes directly from the iPhone. (I realize this would probably have to be done on a WIFi connection as well...)

[bilboa]

no, you can access the app store via 3G connection but the iTunes music app won't load unless you're on WIFI...kind of annoying---you would think that one song would be easier to download than an entire application.


It's not a question of easy vs hard, it's a question of size. A typical song from the ITMS is about 8 MB. While app size varies a lot, going by the apps I've bought, most of them are under 1 MB in size. In addition people are typically going to want to buy many more songs than applications. So allowing music downloads over cellular connection would a) probably congest the cellular data network, and b) piss off customers when they realize that even over 3G, downloads are very slow compared to WiFi. Plus there are the licensing issues imposed on Apple by the music publishers, as described by Macman1993 above, which may make the other points I made moot anyway.

On another note, I wish you could rent/buy video content from iTunes directly from the iPhone. (I realize this would probably have to be done on a WIFi connection as well...)

Definitely would have to be WiFi. It would probably take all day to download a TV show over 3G, not to mention EDGE. Your battery probably wouldn't last that long.