Lanterns hang outside an Apple store in a mall in Beijing on February 23, 2016. Apple on February 18 launched its mobile payments service Apple Pay in China, pitting the US technology giant against strong domestic players in an already crowded field. AFP PHOTO / GREG BAKER
LOS ANGELES: News that Apple is having to close its iTunes Movies and iBooks services in Mainland China comes only seven months after the services were launched in the Middle Kingdom. And only one month after China brought in new laws that restrict foreign media.
Apple hopes the closures are temporary and says it is trying to restore the services as soon as it can. But that statement looks like a forlorn piece of corporate face saving.
