14 DAY TRIAL // iPod touch owners may be on track for making their first phone calls over Sprint’s 3G network, going by recent FCC filings unearthed by the folks at Phone Scoop. Described by the finders as a curious new EV-DO device from ZTE, the Peel (as FCC photos indicate the device will be called), seems to be a case, or a skin that is capable of housing an Apple iPod touch.
Observations made based on the documents published online by the FCC include:
- the Peel does not seem to connect to its host device - the device seems to be a specially designed Wi-Fi hotspot device that could offer EV-DO networking to an iPod touch in a package that could be fastened to the media player - the apparent naming also suggests a relationship - a Peel for an Apple device - the ZTE Peel has only been cleared for Sprint's slower 3G service - EV-DO Rev. 0 networking - the device will use its own battery which users will charge via microUSB
The Peel should also employ a speaker and mic, making it easier to use the iPod touch as a regular phone, rather than having to connect microphone-equipped headphones to the device. Apple’s headphones with remote and mic are known to be compatible with the iPod touch, hence there is already a solution for iPod touch owners using VoIP apps to call up their friends.
Besides getting approval from the Federal Communications Commission, The PEEL would also require “made-for-iPod” certification from Apple so that customers know the device has been certified by the developer to meet Apple performance standards, as well as a native application so that the user has a user interface to rely on. The Made for iPod, Made for iPhone, and Made for iPad logos mean that an electronic accessory has been designed to connect specifically to iPod, iPhone, or iPad.
Accessory manufacturers who enroll in Apple’s MFi program receive technical specifications describing the iPod Accessory protocol, the communication protocol used to interact with iPod, iPhone, and iPad. Vendors also gain access to the hardware connectors and components that are required to manufacture iPod, iPhone, and iPad accessories.