Frenzy to accessorize Apple’s iPad commences

16 years ago

“Cottage accessory industries grew up around Apple’s iPod and iPhone. ‘We think (the iPad) is going to be another success story for Apple,’ and for accessory suppliers, says Kas Alves, executive vice-president at the 30-year-old company he runs along with his father and brother. Scosche plans to roll out ‘at least a dozen’ iPad accessories this year, Alves says. They may include a charger, an in-car dashboard mount, and a home audio dock that would double as speakers,” Olga Kharif reports for BusinessWeek.

“Other iPod and iPhone accessories manufacturers, including Playa Vista (Calif.)-based Belkin and Nashville-based Griffin, have announced iPad accessories such as cases and screen-care kits. Apple also makes many accessories, including chargers, keyboard docks, and carrying cases. ‘It’s going to be an incredibly important portion of our business,’ says Jamie Elgie, director of product management for mobility at Belkin. ‘We believe (iPad accessories) could be as big as our businesses for iPod and iPhone.’ An average cell-phone owner purchases about $60 worth of accessories, according to ABI Research,” Kharif reports. “Consumers spent $8.4 billion on mobile-phone accessories in 2009, according to NPD Group.”

Kharif reports, “It’s possible that iPad owners will spend more on accessories [than iPhone and iPod owners], some analysts say. The iPad is larger, more versatile, and generally pricier than the iPod and iPhone. It may also lend itself to longer usage, Elgie says. To make the tablet more useful within the car, home, or office, users will need more accessories, he says.”