Technology International

OK. I got used to the fact that I can't download music from the iTunes store. (My country is not one of those listed.) But now, with all the excitement about the Mac Apps store, I find that I can't download apps. Instead, I must purchase the boxed version and wait....wait....wait....for it to be shipped overseas.

Mind  you, it's easy enough to purchase my laptop and assorted other tech gadgets online. My Macbook Pro came directly from Apple in record time. It seems that the problem is with the approval for downloads, somehow. I see some very obscure countries listed as being approved. So is this a political thing? Another "who-knows-who" setup? An unannounced embargo against Trinidad and Tobago?

Last year I tried to purchase a dress from a store in NYC. I had done my homework, having my U.S. skybox listed as an additional address for my credit card, so the shipping was done domestically. Yet, no matter what I or the salesperson on the phone did, we could not get the order to go through. Finally, after much discussion and the manager's investigation, we found that the computer checked my computer's location, and it denied them from taking the order!!  No matter that my credit card was fine and I can purchase thousands of dollars worth online, for airline tickets to merchandise. This was not Kleinfeld's, either, but a basic women's clothing store. (I finally had to have a family member purchase it for me from within the U.S. and send it to me...still had to pay the delivery charge and way too much for the local VAT and import taxes.)

Admittedly, compared to a decade ago, things are much easier. We have on-demand movies and a wealth of cable channels (although many are in Spanish and many are changed from English-speaking to Spanish with no notice! ) We have faster internet service that is quite reliable and access from almost anywhere in the country, even with some free hotspots around.

Our cellphones work (well, better than before) and we can get updated models (mostly 6 months and older models, at 3 times the price in the U.S.). We can order and have most things delivered in about 2 weeks, which is half the time it used to take.

So - what's the holdup? Why are we being blanked for download services from some vendors? Anyone know?