Apple seeks "tax" on iPod accessories

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---Why not instead pay your own costs in awarding that logo and try to help people meet the requirements in getting the logo---

Apple has, all along, been helping out the various manufacturers of iPod related products. This program is a means of formalizing those actions (and apparently milking some cash out of them). From an earlier article on the subject:

http://www.macnewsworld.com/story/40095.html

Rather than aggressively expanding into iPod accessories, Apple's plan appears to be: keep the party going for its many partners. Besides the iPod shuffle sports case, it has no plans for a broader product rollout, says Executive Vice President Phil Schiller.

Schiller adds the Made for iPod program seeks to formalize how accessory makers work with Apple -- while also preventing consumers from getting stuck with knockoff products that don't perform as advertised. "We have worked hard on this market, to help developers design, market and sell their products," he adds. "And that's what we intend to keep doing."
Logo-Motion

That's smart, says Tim Deal, an analyst with Technology Business Research. "When you consider that there are so many competitive alternatives to the iPod, it's important for Apple to keep these accessory makers happy," he says. "It adds to the iPod's viability as the digital-music standard."

Accessory makers that have been briefed about Apple's plan say it will help more than hurt. While none revealed the exact details, Made for iPod is essentially a way to make sure all electronics accessories work properly with the iPod. It doesn't apply to nontechnical products, such as cases or polishes.

....

But most accessory makers say the royalty is well worth it, given the millions Apple pours into hawking the iPod. "There's nothing in this that threatens our business Meet the server enhanced for Linux?: the new IBM eServer? OpenPower? system. model," says Brian Van Harlingen, a senior technology manager at consumer-electronics outfit Belkin, one of the largest iPod accessory makers.

Posted by: tic swayback   Posted on: 03/16/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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