According to a new report posted today by iLounge, adapters to use older devices and cables with the new iPhone’s 9-pin mini dock connector will be available for $9.99, and Apple will be the only supplier offering the adapters.
…sources have confirmed to iLounge that Apple will be the exclusive initial vendor of a new Dock Connector Adapter, to be sold individually and/or in three-packs. According to sources, the Dock Connector Adapters will sell for approximately $10 each or three for $29, with Apple-branded new USB cables selling for $19 each.
The new dock connector has been pictured in numerous leaks, and is practically confirmed as a feature of Apple’s new iPhone and other forthcoming Apple devices. It’s unclear exactly why Apple would insist on being the sole supplier of such adapters, although accessory makers are fearing the worst:
Some developers fear that Apple will corner the market for both the adapters and cables, much as it did with MagSafe connectors for MacBook laptops, using licensing agreements and threats of lawsuits to prevent less expensive third-party solutions from coming to market. One source notes that Apple will reap a windfall by limiting competition in this manner, generating revenues of $100 million for every 10 million Dock Connector Adapters it sells for $10.
At any rate, $10 is a reasonable price for an adapter – especially considering that Apple’s cables and adapters are typically of very high quality, while many lower-priced cables, adapters, and accessories tend to wear out sooner and not work as well as Apple’s own offerings.
