Apple Inc.’s iTunes Movies and iBooks service 
were closed down in China last week, less than 
seven months after they started operations.
Apple wants to restore services “as soon as possible,”
 the company said in a one paragraph e-mailed 
statement without providing a timeframe. 
The closings were ordered by the State 
Administration of Press, Publication, 
Radio, Film and Television, the New York Times
 reported, citing unidentified people familiar with the matter.
In February, the regulator and 
the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology 
released new rules governing publication of virtually 
all types of Internet content in China. 
The regulations took effect last month.
Greater China, which includes Hong Kong
 and Taiwan, is Apple’s largest market
 after the U.S., with the company rolling out 
new services amid slowing growth for device sales.
 For the three months ended December, 
revenue in the region rose 14 percent to$18.4 billion
 and Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook 
plans to continue investing despite an economic slowdown.
Apple was the third-largest smartphone 
vendor in the December quarter with 12.5 percent
 of shipments, according to researcher Canalys. 
That trailed Huawei Technologies Co. 
and Xiaomi Corp., who each had about 15 percent.
Last month, President Xi Jinping said China 
would accept foreign Internet companies 
as long as they abide by Chinese laws and regulations.