Apple's iTunes and app stores experience outages worldwide

[NEW YORK] Apple Inc's iTunes and app store are experiencing outages, preventing users from making purchases or downloading applications.

Users in countries including the US, Switzerland, Spain and the UK reported getting error messages or having difficulty when trying to install or update apps or log into their accounts.

The company's own support Web page shows all of its services, stores and iCloud were working normally as of 7:55 am New York time.

Apple, based in Cupertino, California, didn't immediately return calls seeking comments.

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