Apple is helping Greece more than the eurozone ever could.
Greek banks are closed and there are daily withdrawal limits as cash drains out of the country’s troubled economy, so Apple is giving Greek iCloud subscribers 30 days of no-cost service.
Apple sent out the news in emails to customers, one of which was published by Greek blog iPhoneHellas.
“To prevent interruption in your iCloud service during the current fiscal crisis, and to make sure you have access to your content, we’ve extended your iCloud storage plan for an extra 30 days at no additional cost,” the email stated.
Apple warned that if the crisis continued, users could still be in for trouble.
“We won’t attempt to charge you for your plan until 30 days after your original renewal date. If we are unable to renew your plan, you may need to reduce the amount of iCloud storage you use,” the email stated.
Greeks are also helping Apple, by using their last dollars to buy gadgets, including many Mac computers, that they hope to resell when the economy improves.
The olive branch from Apple highlights the difficult reality for people in Greece, who have become the focus of international eyes as many root for a turnaround in its economy and a solid bailout.
While Greece was supposed to face a judgment day on Sunday, during which Europe would come to an agreement on the country’s fate and future in the eurozone, it became a judgment delay as talks dragged on unexpectedly.
Greece, unable to pay its loans and with its banks near insolvency, has faced severe disruptions in its economy as food gets trapped at its ports, public employees work for free, citizens learn to get around without money.
This has meant major disruptions for Greeks that pay for international services with credit cards, which are unable to settle charges during the bank freeze.
On Sunday, European heads of state were meeting in an attempt to find middle ground that would provide Greece with much needed cash while also forcing the country to make reforms such as cuts to pensions and hikes on taxes.
There had been reports of some constructive talks, but the crisis appeared doomed to drag into the next week.
The Greek parliament is expected to vote Wednesday on whether it will accept the terms of the latest bailout, which, as of 11 p.m. Sunday Greek time, had not yet been decided.
Source: Mashable