Apple announces iPhone accessories with pricing details

[AppleInsider]

With less than seven hours to go before Apple's hotly anticipated iPhone launches in the United States, the company has released pricing for nearly a dozen Apple-branded accessories due to go on sale alongside the handset.

"Look for the 'Works with iPhone' logo to find electronic accessories designed to connect specifically to iPhone and certified by the developer to meet Apple performance standards," the company said in regards to third-party accessories that will also turn up at Apple and AT&T retail stores on Friday.

Apple added that many iPod accessories that use the 30-pin connector -- such as chargers and speakers -- may also be compatible with iPhone, even though they haven’t been certified as “Works with iPhone.”

A list of Apple iPhone accessories follows:

iPhone Bluetooth Headset ($129)
Make and answer iPhone calls wirelessly with this compact and lightweight Bluetooth headset. The iPhone Bluetooth Headset features a single button that lets you make and receive phone calls simply and intuitively. And it delivers up to 5.5 hours of talk time and up to 72 hours of standby time thanks to its built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery. An iPhone Dual Dock and iPhone Bluetooth Travel Cable are also included.



iPhone Dock ($49)
The iPhone Dock offers easy access to a USB port for syncing or charging, and audio line out for connecting to powered speakers. Also includes an Apple USB Power Adapter and an Apple Dock Connector to USB Cable.



iPhone Dual Dock ($49)
Give both your iPhone and your iPhone Bluetooth Headset a place to call home. The iPhone Dual Dock also includes an Apple USB Power Adapter for convenient charging.



iPhone Stereo Headset ($29)
The iPhone Stereo Headset is designed like the Apple iPod headphones and features a high-performance microphone fitted with a windscreen. You can quickly answer and end iPhone calls and control basic music playback simply by pressing a button on the mic.



Apple USB Power Adapter ($29)
Use this compact, convenient USB-based adapter to charge your iPhone or iPod at home, on the road, or whenever it’s not connected to a computer. An Apple Dock Connector to USB Cable is included.



Apple Dock Connector to USB Cable ($19)
This USB 2.0 cable connects your iPhone or iPod — directly or through a Dock — to your computer’s USB port for efficient syncing and charging, or to the Apple USB Power Adapter for convenient charging from a wall outlet.



iPhone Universal Dock Adapter 3-Pack ($9)
These Dock Adapters enable your iPhone to connect to the iPod Universal Dock and other products that use the Universal Dock system. You can even conduct speakerphone calls with your iPhone in the Dock.



iPhone Bluetooth Travel Cable ($29)
Use this cable to charge your iPhone Bluetooth Headset while you sync or charge your iPhone.



iPhone TTY Adapter ($9)
This adapter lets you use your iPhone with standard TTY devices. Just plug the cable from your TTY device into one end of the iPhone TTY Adapter, then plug the other end of the adapter into your iPhone.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[ThunkDifferent.com]

iWonder why the dual dock costs as much as the single doc? Could be aesthetics

Well, it will be an exciting day for apple fans.

Here's one.
http://ThunkDifferent.wordpress.com/...or-the-iphone/

[a_greer]

wheres the car charger?

$129 for a headset is soooooooo overpriced that it isnt even funny!

[BlackSummerNight]

So why would anyone buy the single dock when they can get the dual dock at the same price....strange.

Originally Posted by ThunkDifferent.com

iWonder why the dual dock costs as much as the single doc? Could be aesthetics

Well, it will be an exciting day for apple fans.

Here's one.
http://ThunkDifferent.wordpress.com/...or-the-iphone/

[Idle]

Originally Posted by a_greer

wheres the car charger?

Not too surprising, considering they've always let the 3rd parties take care of that for the iPod.

[studiomusic]

Originally Posted by Idle

Not too surprising, considering they've always let the 3rd parties take care of that for the iPod.

And that there are a bazillion car chargers out there for the ipod that will work with the iphone...

[anantksundaram]

I think Apple should have thrown in for free the TTY adapter -- to charge an extra $9 for that is downright cheap, money-grubby, and ridiculous.

[ajhill]

Originally Posted by ThunkDifferent.com

iWonder why the dual dock costs as much as the single doc? Could be aesthetics

Well, it will be an exciting day for apple fans.

Here's one.
http://ThunkDifferent.wordpress.com/...or-the-iphone/

The single dock says that it has a line out (audio) for connecting to powered speakers. The dual dock doesn't mention having a line out.

That's what I get from the descriptions...

Off to go get in line....

[BRussell]

Originally Posted by CREB

As usual, apple has done a beautiful job of design for its accessories. However, I about shorted a frequency at the price of the Bluetooth headset, and even more so over not including an iPhone Dual Dock that has the headset charging port built-in with the iPhone. Time will lower the pricing, and hopefully determine what should and should not be included with the iPhone as standard pieces. Apple's iPhone accessory web page is very well done.

I bet the dual dock comes with the bluetooth headset. The regular dock comes with the iPhone, but they also sell that separately.

[CREB]

As usual, apple has done a beautiful job of design for its accessories. However, I about shorted a frequency at the price of the Bluetooth headset, and even more so over not including an iPhone Dual Dock that has the headset charging port built-in with the iPhone. Time will lower the pricing, and hopefully determine what should and should not be included with the iPhone as standard pieces. Apple's iPhone accessory web page is very well done.

[CREB]

Originally Posted by anantksundaram

I think Apple should have thrown in for free the TTY adapter -- to charge an extra $9 for that is downright cheap, money-grubby, and ridiculous.

I don't know that they should have thrown it in as it would add to overall cost of the iPhone, but I do think that they could legitimately give it to those who qualify for the price of the shipping cost to the recipient. However, the item is listed on the main page, and for that I give Apple a lot of credit for doing and addressing.

[jdmlight]

Originally Posted by a_greer

$129 for a headset is soooooooo overpriced that it isnt even funny!

Not really. Did you see what it includes? The headset includes the Dual Dock and the Bluetooth Travel Cable. Considering that those two accessories separately would cost $78, the Bluetooth Headset isn't that horribly priced. It's still an expensive headset, as a quick search on Newegg reveals quite a few different types of Bluetooth headsets for less than $50 (the price difference between the headset and the added cost of the Dual Dock and Bluetooth Travel Cable).

[aaarrrgggh]

Originally Posted by anantksundaram

I think Apple should have thrown in for free the TTY adapter -- to charge an extra $9 for that is downright cheap, money-grubby, and ridiculous.

Just how big of the market do you think is dominated by people that need a tele-typewriter? Save the $9 for the rest of us....

[macinthe408]

Originally Posted by CREB

However, I about shorted a frequency at the price of the Bluetooth headset...

Here's a Plantronics 665 that's similiar in style and functionality to the iPhone BT Headset.

Price? $149.95.

If you've never used a Jawbone BT headset, you must. After you try it, you'll return that Apple BT headset quicker than you can say "Shazam!"

The noise canceling on the thing is amazing. Me and my friend tested it (watch the demo on their website and you'll be skeptical at first) and it works. He sat in his car, I was outside. He cranked up the radio so loud that I could hear it from 20 feet away outside the car (doors and windows closed, of course).

He then turned on the noise canceling feature and it became quiet. But I could still hear the music coming from the car. When he spoke, I heard him clearly even though the music was still blasting. Amazing!

[BRussell]

I'm afraid that little bluetooth headset would fall out of your ear easily...

[CREB]

Originally Posted by jdmlight

Considering that those two accessories separately would cost $78..

The Dual Dock should have been included. What better incentive to purchase the Apple headset?

Originally Posted by macinthe408

Price? $149.95.

Still expensive given today's market.

[CREB]

Originally Posted by ajhill

Off to go get in line....

Why not get on the special list that Matt Lauer mentioned that he is on this morning on the Today Show? Perks anyone?

[JohnnyKrz]

$129 for a bluetooth earpiece that probably won't stay in your ear. Is it just me or does anyone else hate earbuds? Maybe I just have odd-sized ears...

[S10]

Originally Posted by CREB

The Dual Dock should have been included. What better incentive to purchase the Apple headset?
.

it is included.

[PBG4 Dude]

Originally Posted by JohnnyKrz

$129 for a bluetooth earpiece that probably won't stay in your ear. Is it just me or does anyone else hate earbuds? Maybe I just have odd-sized ears...

I hate earbuds as well. They're always falling out of my ears and make them sore, no matter which adapter size I try.

Originally Posted by S10

it is included.

I think the poster meant included with the iPhone, not included with the BT earpiece.

[CREB]

Originally Posted by S10

it is included.

Not with the iPhone package—only with the headset. That's my point, had Apple simply included the Dual Dock as a standard piece with the iPhone I feel there is more incentive to purchase Apple's headset. Of course, Apple did not so all is moot at this point. Maybe in the future they will...who knows?

[CREB]

All of what is being written here must be entertaining to those reading it from their MacBooks as they wait in line!

[Porchland]

Originally Posted by CREB

Why not get on the special list that Matt Lauer mentioned that he is on this morning on the Today Show? Perks anyone?

The GMA gang played with the iPhone too and said they had to return theirs -- probably to the guy in the suit from the David Pogue video!!

[CREB]

Originally Posted by Porchland

The GMA gang played with the iPhone too and said they had to return theirs -- probably to the guy in the suit from the David Pogue video!!

On the Today Show they had two women demonstrating them. The dizzy blonde (Matt's co-host) didn't understand that you need to double-touch to activate certain features, and was getting nowhere, while the brunette was cruising, and loving every second of the iPhone!

Man, am I glad I'm married to a brunette!

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by CREB

The dizzy blonde (Matt's co-host) didn't understand that you need to double-touch to activate certain features, and was getting nowhere, while the brunette was cruising, and loving every second of the iPhone!

Man, am I glad I'm married to a brunette!

Meredith Viera isn't a natural blonde...

[Ireland]

There's no need for Apple to have made two docks in my opinion. They should have just made the dual dock, included it with the iPhone, and then sold the bluetooth headset with the travel cable (which they do) for $99.. would have been a more streamlined approach IMO.

[Ireland]

Originally Posted by CREB

On the Today Show they had two women demonstrating them. The dizzy blonde (Matt's co-host) didn't understand that you need to double-touch to activate certain features, and was getting nowhere, while the brunette was cruising, and loving every second of the iPhone!

If this is the thing you are referring to, she didn't press the button. I took this screenshot just as she's pressing in on the screen. She keeps pressing below the button.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by CREB

The Dual Dock should have been included. What better incentive to purchase the Apple headset?

My sentiments, too.

I also thinks there should have been a separate iPod dock for sale with an iPhone dock in the front and a Universal dock in the back for different iPods. I know I plan to keep at least one regualr iPod.

Originally Posted by JohnnyKrz

$129 for a bluetooth earpiece that probably won't stay in your ear. Is it just me or does anyone else hate earbuds? Maybe I just have odd-sized ears...

I've always hated the Apple ear piece. Hopefullly Sony comes out with an earbud version.

[city]

private

[anantksundaram]

Originally Posted by aaarrrgggh

Just how big of the market do you think is dominated by people that need a tele-typewriter? Save the $9 for the rest of us....

Oops... I take it back!

I thought that this was an adapter that was meant to solve the problem of the recessed headphone jack input that rendered the iPhone unusable with some standard iPod-friendly headphones..... (e.g., Pogue referred to it in his review).

[McHuman]

Where's iPhone's lower back pain chair?

[webmail]

Except that this isn't a regular bluetooth headset. Or even a nice Bluetooth 2.0 headset. It's a Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR headset that actually uses +EDR for it's connection meaning that it won't be like all the other bluetooth headsets you've ever used or any that you can buy today. So it will be better than the best bluetooth headset you are used to using.

Only two other companies make Bluetooth +EDR earpieces but even the latest Motorola phones that have +EDR don't use it when connecting to the earpiece.

Normal Bluetooth 2.0 Headset, 16kps
Bluetooth using +EDR = 3mb/s

Originally Posted by a_greer

wheres the car charger?

$129 for a headset is soooooooo overpriced that it isnt even funny!

[CREB]

Originally Posted by webmail

Except that this isn't a regular bluetooth headset. Or even a nice Bluetooth 2.0 headset. It's a Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR headset that actually uses +EDR for it's connection meaning that it won't be like all the other bluetooth headsets you've ever used or any that you can buy today. So it will be better than the best bluetooth headset you are used to using.

Only two other companies make Bluetooth +EDR earpieces but even the latest Motorola phones that have +EDR don't use it when connecting to the earpiece.

Normal Bluetooth 2.0 Headset, 16kps
Bluetooth using +EDR = 3mb/s

Yes, but can it do my laundry? And what ever happen to the concept that technology was to get better, and less expensive?

[britwithgoodteeth]

Originally Posted by CREB

Man, am I glad I'm married to a brunette!

If you could have married a blonde, you would have.

[CREB]

Originally Posted by britwithgoodteeth

If you could have married a blonde, you would have.

Actually, my first wife was a blond! Man, did I learn my lesson!

[a_greer]

Originally Posted by anantksundaram

I think Apple should have thrown in for free the TTY adapter -- to charge an extra $9 for that is downright cheap, money-grubby, and ridiculous.

Considering they will only sell a few thousand, and it probably had to be certified by a third party to be "tty compliant" and that costs money: add the techncal development and support costs then the manufacturing and shipping, they cant be making more than $0.50 per unit -- furthermore if all iPhones included the TTY piece and costs $10 more, people would be ticked because they were wasting money and poluting by buying crap that you will never use.

If you spend $500 on a phone, the TTY kit is not that big of a deal.