HP's North American online store has begun accepting pre-orders for the PC maker's own-brand version of Apple's iPod.

Dubbed the 'iPod+HP' - aka 'the Apple iPod from HP' - the device is being offered in its 20GB and 40GB incarnations for $300 and $400, respectively. Orders taken from today onwards will ship on 15 September, the site (http://www.shopping.hp.com/cgi-bin/hpdirect/shopping/scripts/home/store_access.jsp?BV_SessionID=%40%40%40%401940430616.1093611674%40%40%40%40&BV_EngineID=ccehadcmgjdemjfcfngcfkmdflldfjl.0&template_type=product_detail&page=home&site=main&product_code=PE435A%23ABA) estimates.

The two models on offer are the fourth-generation iPod, which Apple unveiled in July (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/07/19/next_gen_ipod/). HP announced its decision to offer the iPod back in January (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/01/08/hp_agrees_to_be_apple/). In March, HP began to offer a customised version of iTunes (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/03/12/apple_posts_compaq_itunes_as/) and Apple's online iTunes Music Store. Later that month, the company began shipping PCs with iTunes pre-installed (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/03/16/hp_to_bundle_itunes_late/).

The HP site pictures white iPods, not blue ones as some had speculated that the company might offer. HP CEO Carly Fiorina is expected for formally announce the iPod+HP availability later today. ®

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