Apple axes UK iTunes download price cut

iTunes store

At the time it was expected the 79p cost of a track download would be reduced to 74p, the equivalent of 0.99 euros, following an investigation into iTunes pricing by the European Union.

But the increasing strength of the euro against the pound means that at today's exchange rate 0.99 Euros equals 79p, so no price cut is necessary.

On January 9 Apple said: "Within six months Apple will lower the prices it charges for music on its UK iTune store to match the already standardised priicing on iTunes across Europe."

However, the change in the exchange rate has wiped out any price difference between the UK and the rest of Europe.

"The announcement was that we would match the UK price to that of other, lower-priced European countries," says Apple. "This is no longer necessary as exchange rates have effectively done it for us."

iTunes customers in Europe still pay much more than those in the US, where each song costs $0.99 (49p or 0.62 euros).