The iPhone may be three machine in one , as Steve Jobs famously hold when unveil the mobile phone at this January ’s Macworld Expo . But even with the ability to make phone call , play music , and surf the Internet , the iPhone still wo n’t be able to doeverythingwhen it arrive on June 29 . But take heart — whatever missing capabilities and feature there are figure to be addressed by accouterment makers , who are doubtlessly chomping at the snatch to start churn out iPhone paraphernalia .
For proof , look no further than the iPod . In the five and a half age since its presentation , the iconic music thespian has become an industry unto itself , with developers churn out everything from Hello Kitty cases to a toilet paper holder / speaker organisation combination that do work with the iPod . The iPod add - on phenomena has return its own name — the “ iPod ecosystem”—with Apple main financial officer Peter Oppenheimer telling an investor league sooner this twelvemonth that there are some 3,000 product built with the iPod in mind . TheNew York Timesreported in 2006 that for every $ 3 spend on an iPod , consumers expend $ 1 on an accessory .
It may be asking a raft to expect a repeat performance from the iPhone . Apple sell its100 one-millionth iPodthis class — in the last 18 months alone , the company has sell 71 million iPod . In direct contrast , over the next 18 months , Apple says it would be well-chosen to sell 10 million iPhones . Still , there ’s no denying the telephone poses a new chance for makers of cases , earpiece , and other ADHD - ons .
“ It ’s a robust platform for accessories to tap into , ” say Ross Rubin , director of industry analysis for market - research firm NPD Group . “ base on the success that companies like Griffin , DLO , Belkin and others have had with iPod accessories , wait very good support for the iPhone . ”
Indeed , vendors have set out to announce iPhone - compatible products already . In addition , similarities between the iPhone ’s larboard and those on the iPod provoke the theory that subsist accessories might be compatible with the mobile phone . And that ’s before even diving into the realm of accessory thatcouldexist once the iPhone slay the streets , based upon what ’s known in public about Apple ’s latest mobile equipment .
The first - party developer
But the company with the inside caterpillar tread on get iPhone accessories out the door may be the maker of the iPhone itself . After all , until next Friday , Apple is the only company that know with any sure thing what will and wo n’t knead with the iPhone . Plus , it does have the advantage of being able to warrant 100 - percentage compatibility with the iPhone right out of the logic gate .
To that end , Apple has already herald a brace of iPhone accouterment , previewed by Jobs during hisMacworld Expo keynote . One of those offerings will be the phone ’s included wired stereoscopic picture headphones . Though they may at first glance attend identical to the iPod ’s standard earbuds , these earphone conceal a mystery : an integrated mike that lets you make and get phone call . A squeezable mastery on the cord let you answer or hang up call ; the iPhone pause or reboot your music as necessary , allow you to switch seamlessly between the earpiece and iPod functions of the iPhone .
Apple ’s other iPhone offer is a minimalist Bluetooth headset for taking and making phone cry ; when not active , the headset function to sleep to preserve battery life . As befits Apple ’s current design esthetic , the twist shown during the Expo tonic was exceedingly severe , with one clit on the top that answers or hangs up a call .
Jobs did n’t mention whether Apple ’s Bluetooth headset would let users listen to music — as it ’s not a stereo gadget , the likelihood is that it wo n’t . Apple has n’t disclose pricing for its headset , but like mannequin run anywhere from $ 25 to $ 100 depending on features .
Available powerful away
Third - party marketer may not be able to predict total compatibility with the iPhone at this early date , but what they lack in guarantee , they more than make up for in the breadth of products offer . A bit of companies have already let go some information on forthcoming iPhone products , but this leaning is by no means exhaustive ; as the June 29 release date take in closer , expect to see many more offering seem .
At the bit , most of what ’s been announced fall into what is probable the most common category of accouterment : cases . And that ’s understandable — the iPhone ’s 4.5 - by-2.4 - by-0.46 - inch dimensions have been recognise for some meter now .
When it comes to the iPhone , you could await to see many of the same type ofcases that are available for the iPod . With the iPhone , however , there ’s a complication — the machine ’s Multi - Touch user interface requires user to be able-bodied to makeskincontact with the touchscreen .
iPod case maker ezGear has already announced three cases for the iPhone : theezSkin , theezSkin Edge , and theezSkin Max . Each uses a transparent film to cover the iPhone ’s front and back and keep it scratch - loose , and heavier silicone bumper on the side and recession , to protect it from drops . The three guinea pig also admit a flap to cover the iPhone ’s dock - connection port and a holster that clips onto a belt for ready access .
Marware ’s QuickVue hardshell case
Marware has its ownline of casesin the offing . The $ 30 QuickVue is a rubberized hardshell that user can cursorily flip overt to get to the iPhone ; the CEO Elite is a leather and nylon case , concluded with knock clip and a plush inside that keeps the iPhone nestle safely off . The $ 15 SportGrip for iPhone is a eminent - grade no - slip silicone skin with built in side ridges for well-to-do gripping . There ’s also a couple of rubberized holster example with integrated cord winding mechanisms : the Crotalus cerastes ( $ 25 ) and the Sport Grip Backwinder ( $ 25 ) . Both the Sidewinder and the Backwinder also have belt cartridge clip based on Marware ’s Multidapt system , paint a picture that once the great unwashed get ahold of an iPhone , they ’re not going to allow it out of their sight .
Not to be left out , Griffin Technologyis also work on a handful of cases . The Elan Holster is , as its name suggests , a leather holster that clips onto a belt ; the Elan Snap - In is a molded caseful that features a swivel clip on the back ; and the Elan Sleeve is a leather sleeve with a belted ammunition clip . Griffin has adjust itsiClear lineof gauze-like polycarbonate iPod cause to make a poser for the iPhone as well . It also uprise an armband call the Streamline . Besides cases , Griffin has developed an iPhone version of its $ 20PowerJoltcar power adapter , which it say will be available anywhere the iPhone is sold once the phone ships .
Griffin Technology ’s Streamline armband
Like Griffin , other accessory Jehovah are n’t satisfied with just offering cases . For example , DreamGear is expanding itsi . Soundline with the forthcoming RoadTalk Pro . It combines the functions of an FM sender ( the equipment that permit you listen to your iPod ’s audio through your car ’s speaker system ) with a handsfree car kit . The RoadTalk Pro , which communicates with phones via Bluetooth , has an integrate mike that lets you contain on conversation without involve your hands off the wheel . It ’s price at $ 95 and slat for an goal - of - July release .
Meanwhile , V - Moda is prepping the $ 100Vibe yoke , a exercise set of wired earpiece based on the company ’s highly - regarded Vibe canalbuds . The Duo sum a mike into the headphone cable , allowing users to use the duad for both listening to music and handling phone calls .
XtremeMacplans to transport a bunch of power accessory for the iPhone : the $ 30 InCharge , a heavyset AC adapter with a detachable cable for charging the iPhone from a computer ; the $ 20 InCharge Auto for charge an iPhone or iPod from any motorcar with a standard 12V power outlet ; and the $ 40 InCharge Travel for airline and car outlet .
Aliph ’s Jawbone Bluetooth Headset
in the first place this week , Aliph announced that its $ 120 Jawbone Bluetooth Headset will go on sale alongside the iPhone at 157 Apple retail computer storage next Friday .
What about iPod gadgets ?
If you ’ve got an iPod , chances are you ’ve already sink some cash into the all-encompassing variety of exist iPod accessories on the grocery store . As you ponder whether or not to purchase an iPhone , one factor may be whether or not your current iPod add - ons will solve with it .
regrettably , the answer right prior to the iPhone ’s press release is likely “ reply blurry , necessitate again . ” Like its wandering - music - play brethren , the iPhone admit a 3.5 mm headphone diddlysquat and a 30 - pin dock - connector port . As the earpiece jack is stock , it ’s probable that total - ons that rely on the audio output from that embrasure will work fine , so you belike wo n’t need to trade in your earpiece ( unless you want one that has a mike as well ) .
The dock - connector engineering science is passably more of a enquiry - Gospel According to Mark . While the fact that Steve Jobs has referred to the iPhone ’s larboard as a “ 30 - pin iPod connector ” bodes well for existing iPod accessary , there are doubtlessly a few add - ons that will need pregnant update ( voice recorder , for illustration , which calculate ona built - in capability of the iPod ’s microcode ) .
It ’s potential — though still uncertain — that Apple might bring home the bacon a Universal Dock Adapter for the iPhone . The speech sound is the same width as the iPod and just 0.03 inches thicker than the 30 GB fifth - generation music player . A Universal Dock Adapter would allow for the iPhone to be used with all the loudspeaker system systems and accessary that trust on docking facility adapter , such as Apple ’s owniPod Hi - Fi . But it ’s also possible that these devices will need to be update and revised so as to be iPhone - compatible anyway ; we ’re unlikely to know more until the iPhone is uncommitted .
What come next ?
Nevertheless , what is know about the iPhone at this peak channelize to a number of directions that accessory shaper could follow with future offering . The inclusion of Bluetooth , for example , potentially opens up a vast market of cell phone accessories , especially for wireless headset like the aforementioned Jawbone and products from Jabra , Sony , and Motorola .
Wireless headsets for making and taking Call are great , but why not bring the same convenience to medicine and picture ? The ingredients would seem to be there : the iPhone reputedly has the same Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR standard found across the Mac line , but there ’s no word about whether the sound will take vantage of Bluetooth ’s Advanced Audio Distribution Profile ( A2DP)—a protocol that facilitates the cyclosis of high - quality audio , like music . For deterrent example , iSkin ’s Cerulean F1 stereo headphones use the A2DP protocol for medicine ( when geminate with a sender that plug away into the iPod ’s dock - connector porthole ) and also double as a Bluetooth headset for treat sound call . While the headset functionality should run with the iPhone , iSkin could not give a definite result on whether or not the music capability would do work with the iPhone ’s built - in Bluetooth . To embark a mass medium player with Bluetooth built - in that can not stream music wirelessly seems unlikely , but Apple follows its own path .
Another course for accessary makers will be to take advantage of what the iPhonedoesn’toffer . For case , one criticism leveled at the headphone is the seeming inability for users to replace the internal electric battery . Many cell phone exploiter are habituate to pack a spare shelling to swap in when the first one dies , something that does n’t come out to be potential with the iPhone . While losing your music or your roving cyberspace is an inconvenience , having your cell phone run out succus is potentially far worse , especially in emergency situations . Expect to see a mart for supplemental tycoon devices for the iPhone , similar to the one that ’s sprung up for the iPod .
Another likely area for third - party intervention stems from the iPhone ’s touchscreen keyboard . Smartphone user have become accustomed to receive a strong-arm QWERTY keyboard , and the iPhone is certainly a departure from that . But even smartphone users are sometimes dissatisfied with the text input on their dear machine . That ’s why , for example , Palm recently take the somewhat leftover step of releasing a “ mobile familiar ” machine , theFoleo . The Foleo talks to your smartphone via Bluetooth , but provides you with a full size keyboard and 10 - in silver screen . Palm has said that it would be interested in work the Foleo employment with smartphones from other marketer , Apple include . Whether Apple shares that interest remains to be seen .
There are still plenty of enquiry about the iPhone to be answered — not the least of which is , just how many people will end up buying the twist . Then again , that same question was asked about the iPod back in 2001 . Accessory Godhead are unconvincing to waitress until that dubiousness gets fully answered this time around .
[ Associate editor Dan Moren is also cobalt - editor of theMacUser blog . ]
This article was update on Monday , June 25 , to correct information about V - Moda ’s Vibe Duo earphones .
