How to Create a US iTunes Store Account

I am sure many readers must envy the catalogue of apps the US iTunes Store hosts while we, here in the UAE only have a handful in comparison. This ‘How to’ guide will help you create an account for the iTunes Store. It covers everything from acquiring a gift card to actually purchasing your first app. This guide is particularly useful for those who do not have a US based credit card but still want to reap the benefits of a wider variety of media at a lower cost.

Part 1- Getting the iTunes Gift Card

In order to create an account, you must first get your hands on an iTunes gift card. These come in denominations of $10, $15, $25 and $50. The easiest way to do this would be via asking a friend or family member in the US to stroll by a store and pick it up for you. They are usually sold at most major retailers like BestBuy, Walmart and of course Apple retail stores. For those of you (probably most) an easier alternative might be via souq.com or ebay.com. After doing some quick research on souq I found that the best deal available was AED 125 for a $25 card. Souq is quite obviously a more expensive option. My preferred method is to quickly set up an eBay and Paypal account and use them to purchase a code online. Please note that most people will opt to e-mail you the code as shipping costs too high. eBay buyers should make sure they are buying from reputable seller, who are willing to send scanned copies with the code. I personally use a fairly reputable seller for $100 cards (The maximum official amount is $50 so for $100 you will get two codes). You can normally grab a card for about 5-10 percent above its face value. I can personally vouch for the eBay seller recommended as i have had no issues with him as he is more than willing to provide scanned copies of the card and has extremely fast delivery time (usually 1-3 hours on a working day).

Now that you have your iTunes code, read on to create your account.

Part 2- Creating Your Account

Before you begin this part of the guide please ensure you have already purchased an iTunes gift card

This is how the home page of iTunes Store should look. Click on 'Redeem' which is under Quick Links on the top right.

Following the previous instruction should lead you to a screen that looks like this screen shot

On this screen, enter you iTunes gift card code and click on 'Continue'

When prompted to enter your Apple ID, select 'Create Account'. You do not need a me.com address for iTunes. Even a Gmail or Yahoo! will work.

Once prompted with this screen, click on 'Continue'

Check the 'I have read... Terms and Conditions' and click on 'Continue'

Fill out your details into this page. Once you are done click on 'Continue'

Select 'None' as your credit card. It is the last option after 'PayPal'

Now fill out this form. As for the address you may use any US based address. I normally use a famous hotels address such as The Palace. It doesnt really matter as long as it is in the US. Once you finish filling out your details, scroll down and click on continue.

You have now successfully registered your iTunes Store account. You should be prompted with a screen like this:

Success! You are now ready to buy anything you want from the US iTunes Store including Music, Music Videos, Movies, TV Shows, Audio Books and of course, applications for your iPod Touch or iPhone.

Problems? Please post in the comments section below.

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