Apple is pushing back the worldwide rollout of the iPod Mini, citing better-than-expected demand for the portable player in the United States.
Apple initially said it intended to launch the product outside the United States in April. However, the company now says it plans to make the Mini available to international markets in July.
Apple says that its manufacturing partners who produce the tiny hard drive that powers the Mini have a fixed supply of the component that can be supplied by June. Apple says it expects supply levels to be up to speed by July.
Apple declined to disclosed new U.S. sales figures for the product. At launch in February, the company said that it had received 100,000 pre-orders for the Mini. The iPod Mini is about the length and width of a business card, weighs about 3.6 ounces and holds 1,000 songs.
Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple’s shares were up 71 cents, or 3%, at $26.21 in morning Nasdaq trading.
