Old iPhone Accessories Are Incompatible with iPhone 3G

It has been revealed that owners of Apple's old iPhone won't be able to use the accessories they might have bought for their device with the new iPhone 3G. Claiming that 3G has a differently-shaped case, an Apple insider says your old iPhone accessories are no good for the new iPhone model.

According to MacsimumNews, an Apple employee claims "the iPhone 3G is shaped differently and doesn't fit in the same dock." Those interested in acquiring an iPhone 3G should also note that the "dual dock" that comes with the Apple Bluetooth Headset will not fit the iPhone 3G. At this time, there is no dual dock solution for the iPhone 3G, the employee points out, although Apple is listing the Bluetooth Headset as a compatible accessory, on the iPhone 3G website.

Having had a look at the iPhone 3G Technical Specifications page myself, I found out that Apple does list the iPhone Bluetooth Headset among the accessories supported by the new device. It's actually the first accessory listed under "iPhone Accessories." Here's what it says:

iPhone Bluetooth Headset

Answer iPhone calls wirelessly with this compact, lightweight Bluetooth headset. A single button lets you answer and end calls easily. And the lithium-ion battery delivers up to 5.5 hours of talk time and up to 72 hours of standby time.

It would have been nice of Apple to make a small note just underneath the description saying something along the lines: "we felt there was too big of a gap on the iPhone 3G specs page and we didn't know what to fill it up with, so we decided to throw in the Bluetooth Headset, even though it's not supported by the new device we're launching."

Surely it's a mistake anyone could have made, and it's not the first time hotshot electronics makers such as Apple get their listings wrong. The same specs page, however, does use the term "3G" when referring to the new iPhone's Dock. The "iPhone 3G Dock" allows users to get "fast access to USB charging, syncing, and audio out," but also "conduct speakerphone calls," Apple notes.

Well, Apple itself says a new dock is in order for the new device, so I guess we have to wait for confirmation until then.