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Apple Peel Turns iPod into iPhone, Arriving Soon

- By - Source : Tom's Guide US

iPod Touch owners will soon be able to make wireless calls and send SMS messages like their iPhone comrades.

Consumers who have previously purchased the iPod Touch but can't afford an additional iPhone will now be able to make calls thanks to the upcoming release of the Apple Peel 520.

Originally announced earlier this month, the Apple Peel 520 was developed by Yosion and distributed to Chinese retailers beginning last week. The new peripheral--designed like a protective case--was also reportedly heading to the States complete with a dock connector, a battery and a SIM card. However no firm release date was provided.

But now there may be signs that the peripheral is coming soon. On Tuesday GoSolarUSA, the North American distributor, said that the first demonstration models of the Apple Peel 520 devices are expected to arrive in the States sometime this week.

"We're obviously very confident that consumer demand is high for the Apple Peel 520, and we're looking forward to getting our hands on the first batch," said GSLO President and CEO Tyson Rohde. "As soon as they arrive, we'll begin distributing demonstration models to retail buyers across the country. The amount of interest in this product that we've received from distributors has been staggering."

According to the company, the Apple Peel device provides five hours of talk time and 120 hours of standby use on its battery. After installing the required software, two apps appear on the iPod Touch home screen: Yosion and YsSMS, providing voice and text support respectively. When the communication module is switched on, a signal bar and a battery icon will appear in the middle of the iPod Touch's status bar. To make a call, users simply tap the Yosion app icon which loads the numpad screen.

Currently GoSolarUSA hasn't provided pricing, however the peripheral sells in China for 520 Yuan ($77 USD). The company is looking to sell the peripheral in Radio Shack, Best Buy, Walmart, and Fry's Electronics.

GoSolarUSA also said that it is currently working on a version that works with Apple's latest fourth-generation iPod Touch model.

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MasterM40 09/28/2010 11:56 PM
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sounds healthy

plznote 09/28/2010 11:57 PM
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Then whats the point of an Iphone??

zorky9 09/29/2010 12:06 PM
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(suspense)... waiting for Job's reply....

samdsox 09/29/2010 12:08 PM
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surfer1337dude 09/29/2010 12:17 PM
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anyone else notice that it says nothing about what carrier you will need to use? ;)

dhlee528 09/29/2010 12:24 PM
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it's probably unlocked..

so you can put any sim card in and use it

loomis86 09/29/2010 12:26 PM
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I'd say it uses VOIP and won't work without internet connection.

bunga28 09/29/2010 12:26 PM
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he's going to sue them and then he's going to sue Orange (the French Phone company) for having a fruit name like Apple. And then he's going to sue Apple music company that is owned by sir Paul McCartney for infringing the Apple name.

climber 09/29/2010 12:39 PM
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I have a feeling this will be a wi-fi phone, since there's no HSPA/GSM chip, yes I suppose the attachment might have the chip but to avoid issues with Apple tapping on the shoulder of the wireless providers, you have to wonder!

orionantares 09/29/2010 12:43 PM
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Well unless they received license to use Apple's 1990's esque 30-pin connector, they're probably going to get sued.

christopherknapp 09/29/2010 12:43 PM
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surfer1337dude :
anyone else notice that it says nothing about what carrier you will need to use?



Yes. Because you don't need a carrier. That's the point.

will_chellam 09/29/2010 12:47 PM
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Do some research guys - this is a gsm adapter for the ipod touch...

If this was a voip / wifi adpater i'd be seriously concerned - my toshiba palmtop did voip almost 8 years ago...

skine 09/29/2010 1:23 AM
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Quote :The new peripheral--designed like a protective case--was also reportedly heading to the States complete with a dock connector, a battery and a SIM card.

liveonc 09/29/2010 1:27 AM
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will_chellam :
Do some research guys - this is a gsm adapter for the ipod touch...If this was a voip / wifi adpater i'd be seriously concerned - my toshiba palmtop did voip almost 8 years ago...



Nice! If they also make a Peel 3G, you wouldn't need wifi, if they make a Peel 3G for iPhone people with the first iPhone can have 3G & those with an iPhone 4 can finally use it;-) , & if they make a Peel 4G, Jobs will certainly sue ;-)

Anonymous 09/29/2010 1:46 AM
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He'll sue... But not Apple Corps (the record company started by the Beatles). Apple Corp already sued Apple Computer for stealing their name and image.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple [...] e_Computer

bunga28 :
he's going to sue them and then he's going to sue Orange (the French Phone company) for having a fruit name like Apple. And then he's going to sue Apple music company that is owned by sir Paul McCartney for infringing the Apple name.


Anonymous 09/29/2010 2:21 AM
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Here's the Original Tom's Guide Article from August 17, 2010

The Case That Turns an iPod Into an iPhone

So by the looks of this new Article today, the 22 year old developer was able to find some investors to produce and market his device. :)

Hellbound 09/29/2010 2:25 AM
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I smell a raid in the air...

RazberyBandit 09/29/2010 3:06 AM
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Renegade_Warrior :
Here's the Original Tom's Guide Article from August 17, 2010The Case That Turns an iPod Into an iPhoneSo by the looks of this new Article today, the 22 year old developer was able to find some investors to produce and market his device.


I'm more inclined to think Apple gained the technology through far more deceptive means, such as blatant theft, coercion, or a lawsuit threat, as opposed to Apple offering to buy it, or the guy offering to sell it to them.

I feel kinda bad for people who bought both.

Anonymous 09/29/2010 3:22 AM
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RazberyBandit :
I'm more inclined to think Apple gained the technology through far more deceptive means, such as blatant theft, coercion, or a lawsuit threat, as opposed to Apple offering to buy it, or the guy offering to sell it to them.I feel kinda bad for people who bought both.


Except if Apple had acquired it through what ever means, then the price definitely would be much higher. Cause Apple can't have anyone thinking that Apple can be had on the Cheap when Apple controls the prices.

haunted one 09/29/2010 5:53 AM
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RazberyBandit :
I'm more inclined to think Apple gained the technology through far more deceptive means, such as blatant theft, coercion, or a lawsuit threat, as opposed to Apple offering to buy it, or the guy offering to sell it to them.I feel kinda bad for people who bought both.



Anyone who bought both has no brains anyway since an itouch is an iphone without the phone features. There's really no point in having one of each.

nebun 09/29/2010 7:27 AM
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can i use it with verizon?

Anonymous 09/29/2010 4:33 PM
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presumably you have to jailbreak the iPod to install the software...

gallidorn 09/29/2010 5:04 PM
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They should make this product available for networks other than AT&T. If they want to maximize their sales, they should make the device compatible with Verizon or Sprint.

DaddyW123 09/29/2010 5:20 PM
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samdsox :
this just in ipad now has call abilities....so what do you do just stick it up to your ear??? talk on a tablet lol. should be called is h i t


Really? Wow, you can't read can you? iPod, not iPad dumbass!

dragon5677 09/29/2010 5:21 PM
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this spells DOOM for the iphone.
For apple making another iphone wont do coz ppl will switch to the ipod which is cheaper!!!!
apple has to work harder hehe

Darkv1 09/30/2010 1:37 AM
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I can see Apple suing GoSolarUSA into the ground over this...or at the very least filing an injunction so it is illegal to sell this stateside...

Don't get me wrong I like the idea of this device...I just don't think that Lord Jobs will feel the same way.