Apple reach the 100 million mark

the 100 millionth iPod has been sold.

What’s more remarkable than that though, is despite attacks from rival companies (most recently from Microsoft, SanDisk and Sony), Apple have managed to hold their powerful market share of around 70 per cent of the MP3 marketplace.

And with the iPhone just around the corner and strong rumours of a video nano and a new video iPod, it seems unimaginable that Apple’s hold on the market could possibly weaken.

“At this historic milestone, we want to thank music lovers everywhere for making iPod such an incredible success,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “iPod has helped millions of people around the world rekindle their passion for music, and we’re thrilled to be a part of that.”

Jobs wasn’t the only person to speak gushingly about the iPod though, as Apple managed to rope in an unusual selection of celebrities to gush enthusiastically about the iPod…

“It’s hard to remember what I did before the iPod,” said singer, Mary J. Blige. “iPod is more than just a music player, it’s an extension of your personality and a great way to take your favorite music with you everywhere you go.”

Next was singer-songwriter John Mayer. He said: “Without the iPod, the digital music age would have been defined by files and folders instead of songs and albums. Though the medium of music has changed, the iPod experience has kept the spirit of what it means to be a music lover alive."

“I take my running shoes and my iPod with me everywhere,” said Lance Armstrong, seven-time Tour de France champion. “I listen to music when I run. Having my music with me is really motivating.”


To read the Apple press release in full, go here.

To see the massive ad Apple placed in the Wall Street Journal, go here.

For a slightly less positive piece on the iPod’s future, go here.

And to see how The Sun newspaper broke the story, go here.