X-box delayed again

Microsoft has put back its US launch of X-box a week, and analysts believe the company will have only 300,000 consoles ready for its first day of sales instead of the 800,000 it orginally planned.

Microsoft confirmed that it was "re-focusing away from day-one numbers", and that it wouldn't know how many X-boxes it would ship until its Mexico plant reached peak production.

Some analysts believe the decision reflects concerns over consumer confidence in the US following this month's terror attacks, although the reduced number of consoles may simply be due to production problems.

Although the lines are now reportedly rolling down in Mexico, Microsoft will only be able to supply the US market with 100,000 consoles a week post-launch, according to US media reports.

Analysts say they expect around 750,000 X-boxes to make it into shops before Christmas, with over a million available by January.

Microsoft had wanted to ship 1.5 million units in the US by January.

Consoles for X-box's scheduled spring 2002 European launch are being manufactured in Hungary. Microsoft may release an exact European launch date on 2 October.