Apple mini iPod delayed until July

Apple won't make its mini iPods available globally until July, due to stronger than expected US sales.

The company announced Friday, 26 March, that its 'iPod mini' digital music player aimed at broadening the success of its standard iPods would be delayed until July.

US demand had far exceeded supply levels, which had been planned to last until June. The company does not release actual sales figures.

The company has promised to ramp up its manufacturing schedule with a view to meeting global demand in the July quarter.

Apple has claimed that the iPod mini would be the world's smallest portable music player holding up to 1,000 standard music tracks or songs.

It has an anodised aluminium casing in silver, gold, pink, blue or green and features iPod's click wheel to assist one-handed operation.

It works with Apple's iTunes digital music service.