Companies Rushing to Release iPhone Accessories

Apple's iPhone is selling well, and quite a few companies have jumped on the bandwagon to offer accessories, including cases, charging solutions, and headsets.

OtterBox Cases for iPhone

OtterBox has garnered a reputation for making rugged cases for PDAs, smartphones, and personal media devices. Its OtterBox for iPhone will feature three layers of protection, including a membrane covering for the screen area. It will also feature protection for the sleep/wake, home, and volume buttons, a swivel belt clip that can be attached, and plugged areas for the headphone/headset to keep out water and other debris.

OtterBox lists its case for iPhone as coming soon on its web site.

Griffin Technologies Elan Cases

Griffin Technologies has announced four cases for iPhone owners, each giving a different take on protection and usability.

• Griffin's Snap-In case is a custom-fitted leather case with a snap-in design and featuring a swivel belt clip.
• The Elan sleeve comes with a static peel screen cover that protects the faceplate while providing access to buttons without adding bulk.
• iClear is Griffin's crystal-clear polycarbonate case providing protection and access to touchscreen, audio jack, power switch, volume, speakers, USB port, and LED. It also comes with a static-peel screen cover for iPhone's touch screen.
• And finally the Streamline for iPhone is a washable 2-way adjustable band with a full-face screen protector and built-in reflective trim.

Griffin Technologies Elan Cases for iPhone range from between $24.99 and $29.99 and can be found on Griffin's web site and at major retailers.

XtremeMac's InCharge Auto Charging Solution

Besides protection from the elements, the best way to ruin the experience of a device is for it not to be charged when it is needed most. XtremeMac's InCharge Auto Charging Solution looks to make this a non-issue for iPhone and iPod users by crafting a solution that not only works in-car, but via its detachable USB power cable, can be used with a computer as well.

InCharge Auto is available now for $19.95 at Apple retail stores and online at Apple.com and XtremeMac.com. It is backed by XtremeMac's Limited Lifetime Warranty and is available in black or white.

Solio Solar Charger for iPhone

Not all situations with an iPhone include easy access to a source of power such as an outlet or cigarette lighter. In those cases, using a more natural means to charge this smartphone might come in handy. The Solio Solar Charger for iPhone allows it to be charged anywhere sunlight is available.

Exposing the solar blades to direct sunlight either outdoors or affixed to a window charges an internal battery which stores the power for later use. Charging Solio's battery takes 8-10 hours of direct sunlight, and a fully charged Solio provides up to 14 hours of additional standby time.

More information about the Solio Solar Charger for iPhone, and other devices, can be found at the Solio web site and other retailers, where it sells for $89.95.

Belkin iPhone Headphone Adapter

Many users complained when the iPhone was released that their favorite headphones were unusable with the iPhone because of the deeper recessed headphone connector. Belkin's iPhone Headphone Adapter remedies this by extending the headphone port without compromising the stability of the connection.

The Belkin iPhone Headphone Adapter is available from its web store and other retailers for $9.99.

iPhone Bluetooth Headset

Many iPhone users consider a Bluetooth headset a required accessory, and the one from Apple combines a design tailored for the look of this smartphone and a long battery life: up to 5.5 hours of talk time and up to 72 hours of standby time.

At $129, it costs more than many competitors, but the iPhone Bluetooth Headset includes the iPhone Dual Dock and iPhone Bluetooth Travel Cable, allowing users to easily charge this accessory and their phone at home and on the road.

More information is available on Apple's web site.

These are just a few of the accessories available for this smartphone, but they represent many of the options available.

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