Apple has expanded its Volume Purchase Program to nine new countries outside of the US, a move which may benefit its educational initiatives for the iPad. The Volume Purchase Program gives developers the option to offer their apps in bulk to businesses and at discounted prices for educational institutions. Although the program was previously limited to the US, Apple has announced that it is now available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Spain, and the UK. On the condition that app developers choose to provide a discount for schools and universities, the expansion of the Volume Purchase Program will help promote the use of Apple tablets as educational tools — even if Bill Gates thinks that such programs have a 'terrible track record.'