Apple ships 100 millionth iPod

Since introducing the iPod in November 2001, the company has unveiled more than 10 new iPod models. The music player has also sparked an ecosystem of more than 4,000 accessories, ranging from fashionable cases to speaker systems. More than 70 percent of 2007 model cars in the United States currently offer iPod connectivity.

Apple's iTunes Store has seen comparable success in selling items from its catalog of more than 5 million songs, 350 television shows and 400 movies. The company says it has sold more than 2.5 billion songs, 50 million TV shows and 1.3 million movies, making it the world's most popular online store of the digital media.

Apple's success with the iPod continues despite a plethora of music player competition from other companies, including Microsoft. The software giant in November introduced its Zune music player, whose sales thus far haven't come close to challenging Apple's dominance in the portable-music market.

iPod fans are now awaiting Apple's iPhone, which combines the functionality and design of the iPod with a cell phone. AT&T's Cingular Wireless is set to begin exclusively selling the iPhone for $500 or $600 in June.

Even though initial sales of the iPhone are still two months away, and the device wasn't on display in March at the CTIA Wireless convention in Orlando, Fla., it continues to generate a steady buzz throughout the gadget and cell phone markets.