So $4.99 might be confusing in those countries. The author could have written “149,999,995.01 USD” to avoid confusion…

This was the case even before the Internet made interntional visibility on pricing so common. These days, arguably, it’s actually the norm.

I think the concern at Apple is more likely:
1. I price it at $0.99
2. Exchange rate means that’s currently £0.50
3. Apple charges £0.75 in the UK
4. 65 million UK customers get angry that Apple is profiteering on their absolute control over international pricing (Apple won’t allow you to buy in foreign currency – won’t even allow you to download *free* apps from any store except the one from your home country).

Now, you can agree or disagree with the idea that it’s morally unfair / “ought to be” illegal (as the UK press likes to claim) to do differential pricing like that, but I think it’s disingenuous to pretend that there’s any deeper reason behind it than maximizing Apple’s profits. (In contrast, Economists tend to love the idea, and support it to the hilt.)

the same app will be

$0.99
£0.57
Euro x.xx
CHF Y.YY

so if you describe it as costing $0.99 in the description that is simply incorrect for all non-US users.

sure – it is approximately correct, but I think Apple made a good call here in asking developers not to write inaccurate prices, and rather let the users see the correct price in the currency they will pay in.

You’d object if you went into a store and the iPod said $99 on the packaging, but had a sticker for $113.25 (or at least you’d agree that it was confusing)