It looks like Apple and iTunes are now offering tracks at twice the bit rate of the iTunes standard.

Apple's iTunes store—in partnership with EMI—is now hawking DRM-free music at twice the bit rate of its standard fare (256Kb/s vs. 128Kb/s) and charging a $0.30-per-track premium for it. We’re all for DRM-free music, but 256Kb/s still seems like a pretty low bit rate—especially when you’re using a lossy codec.

I don't think I'm the only one to be saying "ABOUT BLOODY TIME!". I can say I have never bought a track from iTunes on the sole basis that I refuse to pay for something that is of a compromised quality. 128Kb/s still seems ridiculous, 256Kb/s will be a welcome change, but you shouldn't have to pay $0.30 more for it!