Technology trailblazer Apple and mobile phone giant Motorola are set to announce the launch of an iPod phone next week.

A leading industry analyst told the New York Times that he had been briefed on the new offering and that an official announcement was now imminent.

Roger Entner of Ovum told the paper that the iPod phone would be a “deluxe music player now on your cell phone”.

The iPod has been one of the most successful consumer products in recent years, bringing portable music to millions of fans across the globe.

Now the much-anticipated launch of an iPod phone will provide a major boost for people who want to be able to listen to music, make calls, send text messages and access the internet on the move using one device.

There are already handsets on the market that allow users to download MP3 files, but the strength of the iPod brand is likely to drive this trend forward.

(C) Adfero Ltd, 1998-2005.