Apple has launched its iTunes service in the UK, Germany and France, to be followed by the launch of a pan-European portal later in the year.

Users can buy songs using the iTunes jukebox, which is a key part of Apple's strategy for integrating the sale and playing of music.

The jukebox can also detect if other iTunes users are on a wired or wireless network and allow them to play songs from their collection, but not copy them.

Speaking at the launch event in London, Apple chief executive Steve Jobs detailed some of the new features for iTunes users, including personal playlists uploaded by users themselves and voted on by others.

The playlists service was launched in the US two months ago and has seen 50,000 playlists uploaded and 100,000 votes on the best and worst.

Jobs also announced new hardware to allow users to send music from their computer jukebox to a normal stereo system.

The AirPort Express is an 802.11g wireless base station that has Ethernet, USB and audio jack connections. It will be available in July for £99.

"At Apple we all love music. That's why we came up with ideas like the AirPort. We want to be able to listen to all our music wherever we are," said Jobs.

The company also plans to bring out more hardware, designed for in-car music systems, later in the year.

"The UK, France and Germany make up 62 per cent of music sales in Europe and 23 per cent of sales globally. We've sold 85 million tracks online, just in the US, in little over one year. Europe represents huge potential," Jobs added.