Apple is "99.9% certain" to open four to five stores in Germany, with the first slated for arrival this year, said the head of a major German computer retailer. He made the comment to Tony Glover at The Business, where it was reported that Apple will also open a retail outlet in Rome during 2006.
While Apple declined to officially comment on the rumors, "a senior source" at the firm told Mr. Glover that "the company sees the stores as a way of educating the public about the companyis computers as well as selling consumer products, such as Appleis range of iPod digital music players."
Apple said during its earnings announcement last week that it will open 40 new stores this year, most of them in the U.S.
The Mac Observer learned of The Business article through a news item at Macworld U.K..