There was a great scramble by auto related manufacturers to find a way to be able to mate the iPod to the OEM or aftermarket radio so that tunes could be played off the iPod through the car’s audio system. So a whole lot of adapters were developed that plug into the radio to make this possible.
But technology marches on. And as new things are introduced, users get spoiled. They want to be able to use the new technology but to use it with components that they want to buy. Now comes an add-on product like the iPod adapters that adds voice control.
A number of aftermarket companies including Scosche, Blitzsafe and others are developing such products.
Right now, however, the focus is on products that integrate iPods into a car’s audio system. Sales of these products were up 70 percent for the first quarter of this year over the first quarter of last year.
The Consumer Electronics Association that all types of OEM integration kits including cassette adapters, FM modulators, Bluetooth integration kits and general harnesses and adapters will experience steady growth through at least 2010. According to the group, there will be 36 percent growth in these products this year, 13 percent in 2009 and 18 percent in 2010. Total sales is expected to rise from $1.1 billion in 2007 to $1.5 billion in 2008 and $2 billion in 2010.