The iPod mini contains a Hitachi 4GB hard drive

The digital music player launched in the US in February and was a huge success, with reports of shops being out of stock and a thriving eBay trade.

The cut-down music player has a 4GB hard drive which can store up to 1,000 songs, depending on music quality.

The device will compete with music players produced by firms such as Sony, Rio, Creative and iRiver.

Apple's iPod is the most popular digital music player in the world and has more than 50% of the digital music player market.

Delayed

The global launch of the iPod mini was delayed earlier this year as the miniature hard disc drives at the heart of the iPod mini could not be made by Hitachi fast enough.

"The iPod mini has been a smash hit in the US, and we're thrilled to finally be able to offer it to music lovers the world over," said Steve Jobs, Apple's chief executive.

The latest Walkman is about the size of a credit card

Greg Joswiak, Apple's VP of Hardware Product Marketing, told BBC News Online that despite the delay there still could be stock shortfalls when the device goes on sale.

"We expect demand to be huge. I'd recommend people get in line early."

"Supply will keep up with demand by September," he predicted.

The iPod and iPod mini work with Apple's iTunes software and can play songs that have been bought online from the firm's music store as well as MP3 files.

Earlier this month Sony announced that it was to revamp its famous Walkman by launching a digital music player to rival Apple's iPod.

Sony said its 20-gigabyte device would be about �55 cheaper than the top iPod model, which has 40 gigabytes, selling for �219.

Mr Joswiak said Apple had been "disappointed by a misleading marketing trick" by Sony comparing the number of songs the top of the range iPod and the new Walkman could hold.

Apple's 40-gigabyte iPod boasts a 10,000 song capacity while Sony said its new device would hold 3,000 more.

But Mr Joswiak said Sony was basing its figure on a recording quality for songs which was not CD quality.

He pointed out that Sony's own online store did not have songs available in the low recording rate used to promote its new music player.