Monday, December 27, 2004, 01:00 pm

Press event hints at Australia-based Apple announcements

By Katie Marsal

Early next year, Apple Computer's Australia division is scheduled to host a press event that may divulge clues as to when the computer maker will launch a local version of its iTunes music download service.

Sources have recently pointed to this Apple seminar signup page, which advocates a Macworld Event that will take place on January 12, 2005 at the Westin Hotel in Sydney.

"Historically, Apple Australia do not hold events like these to coincide with the US Macworld conferences," said one tipster. "The fact that they are this time strongly suggests that something very Australia-specific could be launched around the same time--some kind of music store, perhaps."

In October, the Australian Financial Review cited music industry sources in a report, stating Apple had completed negotiations with Austrailian-based record labels and would be ready to officially launch the service in a matter of weeks. To date, there has been no official word on the service launch.

This past Fall, Apple hit roadblocks while attempting to launch its iTunes music download service in Canada and Ireland. And while the Canadian service did eventually launch in December, the company has yet to comment on the mysterious last-minute ommitance of Ireland from its October debut of the iTunes European Union service.

It's unclear precisely what announcements may be in store for attendees at the Australian Macworld Event. The presentation is scheduled to kick-off at 3:30pm Australian time, just hours after Apple chief executive will have delivered the opening Macworld keynote presentation in San Francisco.