Yes, you read it right. Apple iTunes Store is now available for Malaysia. This is indeed a big good news for all Malaysian Apple iPods users.

However, there is one drawback for this Malaysian iTunes Store right now. That is, iTunes Apps Store is the only section which is available for Malaysia. We still can't buy any music or video contents like what iTunes Store of other countries does. But anyway, we will get there just in the matter of time. Better than we have no iTunes Store for Malaysia :)

So, for today onwards, we can now register our own an iTunes account with Malaysia address, and as well as using our local credit cards to make purchases for the content in the iTunes Store.

The Malaysian Apple iTunes Apps Store is currently for those who owns the 1st generation Apple iPod Touch. This will now allow current iPod Touch user to upgrade their version 1 software to version 2 software, which then it allows user to install application from the apps purchase/downloaded from the Apps Store. The upgrades will cost US $9.99. If you do have a Jailbreak iPod Touch or iPhone, updating it will locked it back down.

Below are the list of features you will get from the Ver 2.0 upgrades:

1) For those who owns the older iPod Touch before the previous software upgrades, you will now get application for Mail, Maps, Weather, Notes, Stock, iTunes, and lastly App Store.

2) For those who owns the newer iPod Touch after the previous software upgrades, you will now get additional application for App Store.

3) Calculator - The V2 now offer scientific calculator (in landscape mode), other than having standard calculator alone only (Portrait mode).

4) Apps - V2 offers the ability for user to add in more apps & games, as well. Noted that, some are free but mostly you are required to pay for it. These are official apps from Apple. It is totally unlike those craps you get from jailbreak.

5) Mail - The Mail apps is now support for corporate mail server like Microsoft Exchange, and the Exchange for all of us - MobileMe (Pls check www.mobileme.com for more detail info).

6) Push-ability - The V2 iPod Touch now supports Push capability for Push Contact, Push Email, Push Calendar and Push Sync from your PC, Mac and to your iPod Touch at vice versa with MobileMe. (http://www.apple.com/mobileme/features/)

In conclusion, local Apple iPod user can now enjoy legal content purchase from Malaysia Apple iTunes Store. And, iPod Touch user can now benefit to upgrade their current Ver.1 software to Ver.2. This will make it possible for people with the iPod Touch here in Malaysia to enjoy the Apple experience of buying and downloading free apps for their device, without going through loopholes or some hackery. This also bring hopes that chances for iPhone 3G to get in on Malaysia's shore is getting higher.

I would say, it will be getting more and more exciting for all of us here from Apple.