Apple today announced a new subscription initiative that turns paid iCloud+ subscriptions into a broader services bundle in more than 100 countries.
In select countries, Apple says every paid iCloud+ plan, including the cheapest 50GB tier, now includes Apple TV and Apple Arcade “at no additional cost,” while family sharing extends the storage, TV and Arcade access to up to five people.
The initiative does not include the U.S., Canada, Australia, nor is it offered in the UK and other European markets, but it is clearly more than a promotional offer, since Apple TV and Apple Arcade will stop being sold as individual subscriptions through Apple in countries where it has launched. Apple says existing standalone subscriptions will be cancelled as customers transition to access through iCloud+, while Arcade saves and progress are preserved.
Countries where Apple is launching the new iCloud+ bundle include the following:
- Albania
- Algeria
- Angola
- Anguilla
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Barbados
- Belize
- Benin
- Bermuda
- Bhutan
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- British Virgin Islands
- Burkina Faso
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Cayman Islands
- Chad
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Dominica
- Egypt
- Eswatini
- Fiji
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Ghana
- Grenada
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- India
- Iraq
- Israel
- Jamaica
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Kosovo
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyz Republic
- Lebanon
- Liberia
- Libya
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Maldives
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Micronesia
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- Montserrat
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Nepal
- Niger
- Nigeria
- North Macedonia
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Palau
- Papua New Guinea
- Qatar
- Republic of the Congo
- Rwanda
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Singapore
- Solomon Islands
- Sri Lanka
- Suriname
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Türkiye
- Turkmenistan
- Turks and Caicos
- Uganda
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- Yemen
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Apple says existing iCloud+ subscribers in these countries will “automatically gain access” to TV and Arcade, while someone subscribing individually to TV or Arcade but not iCloud+ will be notified that they are now subscribed to iCloud+, and their old standalone subscription will be cancelled.
What‘s particularly interesting is that Apple One is effectively being wound down in these markets. New customers will no longer be able to subscribe, although existing Apple One subscribers can keep their plans. It’s a clear sign that Apple is shifting away from Apple One toward iCloud+ in smaller markets.
“We’re excited to bring Apple TV and Apple Arcade to iCloud+ users in over 100 countries in one convenient subscription,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Services and Health. “iCloud+ users can now securely store and share personal content across their devices, enjoy the absolute best in original storytelling from Apple TV, and explore an incredible lineup of hundreds of games through Apple Arcade.”
As part of the iCloud+ changes, Apple is also including an additional service called Apple Music Select that offers ad-free Apple-curated music stations. The stations are included to entice iCloud+ subscribers to upgrade to full Apple Music at a discounted monthly rate. For example, Apple’s Mozambique announcement quotes $2.79/month for Individual and $4.49/month for Family plans.
With the introduction of iCloud+ with Apple TV and Apple Arcade, Apple TV is also expanding to 59 new countries, making the streaming service now available in 170 countries across the globe.Related Roundup: Apple TV
Tags: Apple Arcade, Apple Music, Apple One, iCloud
Buyer’s Guide: Apple TV (Don’t Buy)
Related Forums: Apple TV and Home Theater, Apple Music, Apple Pay/Card, iCloud, Fitness+
This article, “iCloud+ Now Includes Apple TV, Apple Arcade, and Curated Apple Music Stations in Over 100 Countries” first appeared on MacRumors.com
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