Russian telecom operators MTS, Beeline, MegaFon, and T2 have stopped the ability to top up Apple ID from a mobile phone account since April 1. Payments stopped going through immediately after midnight.
When trying to pay, users see a message about the temporary unavailability of the service. Apparently, the decision is centralized - the operators were instructed to disable the function and warned customers in advance about the need to replenish the balance.
The restriction directly affects the payment of Apple services, including iCloud+, Apple Music and purchases in the App Store. Topping up Apple ID via a mobile account remained one of the last available methods of paying for digital services.
The measure may be related to an attempt to influence the operation of the Apple ecosystem in Russia. Previously, the digital environment discussed the requirements to return part of the services to the App Store, and disabling payments can be considered as a tool of pressure.
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