iPod U2 Edition: Limited Edition Black iPod

Apple is set to market a limited-edition black U2 version of its iPod music player as it begins to face increased competition from the likes of Sony, which has launched a multimillion-pound pan-European ad campaign to promote its rival Walkman.

Apple and U2 will announce the tie-up next week and it is expected that the Irish band's new album, 'How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb', due out at the end of November, will come preloaded on iPods.

Apple already features U2's new single 'Vertigo' in its current TV ads for the iPod and the custom black version of the top-selling digital music player is expected to backed by a new advertising campaign breaking over the US Thanksgiving weekend in late November.

As well as U2's new album, the custom iPod will also carry older back catalogue songs from the band, details of which are expected to unveiled at an event in San Jose, California, headquarters attended by Apple chief executive Steve Jobs and U2 lead singer Bono and guitarist Edge.

The iPod has become key to Apple's success, having heftily boosted profits after it sold more than 5.7m of the devices, giving the firm almost 61% of the total digital audio-player market.

Sony is trying to hit back, but it has a lot of ground to cover. The TV, press, poster and digital campaign marks the first time Sony has promoted its entir