SanDisk has launched a Flash-based portable music player that offers twice the storage capacity of comparable iPod models from Apple.

The 8GB Sansa e280 is expected to retail at $249.99. Users will be able to expand the device's storage capacity by another 2GB through an external microSD expansion slot.

The player support Microsoft's Windows Media digital rights management technology, allowing it to play music purchased from online music stores including Rhapsody and Napster.

The Sansa e280, which will not play music purchased from Apple's iTunes music store, features a built-in FM radio tuner and an integrated microphone.

SanDisk is the second largest seller of Flash-based music players in North America, according to data from IDC.

The company is the world's largest manufacturer of Flash memory used in consumer devices such as cameras, mobile phones and portable music players.

Apple currently sells a 4GB Flash-based iPod Nano for $249. Larger hard disk-based iPod models start at 30GB and sell for $299.

Apple last updated its iPod line of music players in September 2005 with the iPod nano.