Apple Computer Inc. said on Monday customers have purchased more than 250 million songs from its online iTunes Music Store. At a rate of 1.25 million songs at 99 cents a piece per day. Apple's iTunes store is credited as one of the driving factors behind legal music downloads, the store launched the in April 2003 is now available in 15 countries, sales have far outpaced rival services. According to research firm NPD Group, music sold from iTunes accounts up to 70% of legal music sold between December 2003 and July 2004. The success of iTunes has been helped by the widely popular iPod music, Apple Computer sold 4.5 million iPods in the fourth quarter and more than 10 million since its debut in October 2001. Forbes reports Shares of Apple rose 65 cents to $71.14 in afternoon trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market.