Apple warned consumers yesterday that it could not guarantee supply of its hugely popular iPod music player device in the run-up to Christmas in the Republic.
The firm, which will report financial results later today, said it was continuing to experience delays of four to six weeks in the supply of iPods due to exceptional customer demand.
"At this point there is a week's delay in some areas and we are looking at lead times of between four to six weeks to fulfil all our customer orders," said Mr Mark Rogers, managing director of Apple UK and Ireland.
"We cannot guarantee supply for all customers... The biggest challenge for us is a global shortage of hard disk drives for the iPod." Apple has been plagued by supply shortages over the past two years as demand for its iPod music player has beaten all forecasts.
The firm sold 1.66 million iPods in the previous two quarters generating revenue of €513 million and is expected to sell huge volumes in the Christmas quarter.
Mr Paul O'Donovan, an analyst with Gartner, said supply was a worldwide problem for Apple and could result in lost sales to rivals that make music players.
However, he said the iPod remained a fashion accessory, which could cushion the effect of delays in supplies to the shops.
Speculation is mounting on web sites used by Apple fans that the company is about to announce an iPod with a colour screen that can display photographs.
Among the Apple fan sites, ThinkSecret cited "highly reliable sources" in reporting that Apple would announce a 60-gigabyte iPod within 60 days.
Meanwhile, Apple confirmed it would launch a new "Eurozone" iTunes music store later this month. But it is not yet clear if the store, which will enable people to download music tracks over the internet for a small fee, will be available in the Republic.
Mr Rogers said lengthy negotiations with different music companies across Europe over the rights to provide music for sale over the internet was the main cause of the current delay.
Apple has already launched iTunes in the US, France, Germany and Britain.
The website controls 70 per cent of the market for legally purchased downloaded music on the web.
