14 DAY TRIAL // GoSolarUSA has announced that development is expected to begin on modifying the Apple Peel 520 to fit the physical characteristics of Apple’s recently released iPod touch 4.
By signing an agreement with Chinese developer Yosion earlier this month, GoSolarUSA began the process of bringing the Apple Peel 520 to the United States.
Yosion claims that the initial Chinese manufacturing run for the device has already sold out.
GoSolarUSA acknowledges that Apple’s recently-unveiled fourth-generation iPod touch is not only lighter, but also thinner than previous generations. It also adds two video cameras facilitating video chatting - FaceTime.
As such, some alterations need to be done to the original Apple Peel 520, a wireless skin capable of transforming the iPod Touch into a smartphone, adding voice calling and text messaging capabilities.
However, GoSolarUSA expects that few tweaks will be necessary to adapt the Apple Peel for the new iPod touch.
“The Apple Peel 520 is a flexible, protective skin that slips over the iPod Touch’s case and includes a battery, dock connector and SIM card,” said GSLO President Tyson Rohde.
“The new iPod Touch includes a couple of cameras and an integrated microphone in addition to its slimmer design. We’re working to help ensure that a new version of the Apple Peel will fit the new Touch snugly without covering the mic and camera lenses,” added Rohde.
After learning that Apple had sold over 275 million iPods since the original model was released, GSLO predicted similar sales figures for the new iPod touch 4, according to Rohde, who now believes that Apple’s newest iPod touch model has virtually turned an iconic media player into a pocket-sized tablet computer.
“The Apple Peel 520 is a very affordable piece of technology that could greatly increase the functionality and value of the iPod Touch 4G,” Rohde said. “We believe a massive market for next-gen Touch accessories is already building, both in the U.S. and around the globe.”
The Apple Peel 520 is to be priced at around $57 when it makes its official debut in The States.
Those who’ve done the math will have discovered already that the combined solution of iPod touch & Apple Peel 520 costs less than Apple’s iPhone 4.
Then again, the resulted solution will not be an iPhone 4. On the good side, the Apple Peel may not be plagued by antennagate issues.
Softpedia feels compelled to mention (again) that, as good as the Apple Peel 520 sounds, the solution requires a jailbreak on behalf of the iPod touch owner. See this report for more information.