Bono and the Edge launched a U2 special edition iPod music player at an event hosted by the US company Apple yesterday.
The new iPod is part of a wider partnership between Apple, U2 and their music company Universal Music Group, which have agreed to work together to create new digital music products.
The iPod is Apple's digital music player, which has been a phenomenal global success story selling more than two million units over the last three months.
The new black-coloured iPod, which has generated huge interest in Europe and the US, has all the band members' signatures engraved onto its casing.
But contrary to previous speculation the official press release said nothing about the iPod being pre-loaded with U2's new album, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.
At an event in California, hosted by Apple chief executive Mr Steve Jobs, Bono said he wanted U2's audience to have a more intimate relationship with the band, and Apple could help them achieve this goal.
"With iPod and iTunes, Apple has created a crossroads of art, commerce and technology which feels good for both musicians and fans," he said.
The partnership between U2 and Apple will see U2's single Vertigo distributed exclusively in the US through Apple's iTunes online music store. Apple has also created a "digital box set" of 400 U2 tracks , which it will sell via its iTunes music store.
But there was disappointment last night for Irish fans of the iPod and U2, who will have to wait longer than expected for the an iTunes site in the Republic.
Apple said yesterday that it was extending its current European iTunes website, already available in three countries, to a further nine European destinations.
But the European iTunes website will not be accessible by fans using Irish credit cards due to ongoing issues over copyright.
U2's decision to team up with Apple has proved controversial with some fans accusing the band of selling out to commercial interests. But Mr Joel Tanner, owner of U2 fanzine interference.com, told The Irish Times yesterday that the band's link up with Apple was a smart move.
"Is it a sell out? I don't believe so," he said. "It's a fast way to reach massive audiences and get exposure their music. While U2 is a band, they are also a business - this is their day job."
The U2 iPod will be available in the US from mid-November. It will probably take longer to become available in Europe.