Apple to Cash In on Accessory Market

According to press reports, Apple is expected to cash in on the lucrative accessory market for its iPod players by asking for a royalty fee to use its "Made for iPod" logo on Apple-approved products.

According to sources, while Apple is looking to add to its bottom line, the company is also trying to protect consumers from "dangerous" accessories that have been known to damage the iPod hardware.

It is unknown what percentage of sales Apple will demand, but reports have ranged from five to ten percent.

Apple enthusiast site AppleInsider talked to several manufacturers and found support for the plan, as they believed the cost was worth the added benefits. Belkin told the site that it did not expect the royalty fee to trigger a price increase in its products.

However, not all accessory makers showed support for the program. Smaller manufacturers who do not have the shipping volume of the larger companies said that the fees would make it impractical for them to continue to sell accessories for the iPod.

The Made for iPod program is expected to add several million dollars to Apple's revenue numbers each year.