Apple Music rolls out in China, priced at less than $2 per month

Chinese users now have access to Apple Music, iBooks, and iTunes Movies, all of which were previously inaccessible in the mainland, according to a statement released by Apple today.

Apple Music, the company’s Spotify-like streaming service, was launched in the US on June 30. It probably isn’t a coincidence that today’s announcement comes on the exact day that early adopters’ three-month free trial period is set to expire.

Music will also be offered with a free three-month trial to Chinese users, after which it will cost RMB 10 per month (US$1.57) – quite a bit cheaper than its American equivalent, which goes for US$9.99 per month.

Cheaper movies and ebooks too

Apple’s iTunes-based movie store is also coming to the mainland, which will allow users to rent or purchase films for download or streaming. The service will include American blockbusters as well as Chinese hits, with the recent Chinese film The Taking of Tiger Mountain included for free to Chinese customers who use the service soon.

HD movies will start at RMB 5 (US$0.79) and RMB 18 (US$2.83) to own – again, quite a bit cheaper than their American equivalents, which typically start at US$4 for HD rentals and near the US$20 mark for HD versions of newly-released films. The RMB 5 (US$0.79) price tag is on par with the handful of Chinese streaming video services that offer premium streaming, such as Youku and Alibaba’s Tmall Box.

iBooks is set to offer a wide range of Chinese-language titles, including books from Zheng Chunhua and Ma Hongjie. Apple’s statement also gives a shout-out to Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight books, which will finally reach Chinese shores, much to the joy of 15-year-old girls throughout the nation.

Some books will be free for download on the store, while others will start at RMB 0.5 (US$0.08).

Today’s statement from Apple does not explicitly mention the mainland’s censorship of films and books, but Apple has historically played ball with Chinese authorities in its mainland offerings. Chinese users shouldn’t expect to be renting any politically sensitive documentaries or books anytime soon.