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'Podcessory' market hits 1,000-product mark

But Apple is also looking to gain some control over -- and profit from -- other companies' products. Last year, the company introduced its 'Made for iPod' programme, which certifies products as compatible with the iPod's electrical connections. In exchange, Apple gets a royalty for each specially labelled accessory.

The program was initially an option for gear makers, but it's since become mandatory for products that hook up to the dock connector port at the bottom of the iPod.

Baker said he thinks Apple is mostly dabbling with its podcessory effort, "focusing on just a few products and then taking their pound of flesh for the logo programme."

But, he said, Apple needs to be careful since it benefits from the wide range of accessories that exist for its products, something that rivals can't match.

"They aren't likely to want to do every type of product," he said.

All aboard
Despite all the competition, the podcessory market continues to attract newcomers.

Catalogue seller The Sharper Image wasn't on the Macworld show floor, but the company has jumped headfirst into the market. The company includes iPod connectors on a wide range of gear, from speakers that light up, to its $700 (£400) iJoy massage chair.

Maxell, the Japanese brand known for its recordable tapes and CDs, has also made a large bet on the Apple player, introducing a line of podcessories including cases, international travel chargers, docks, speakers and an attachment that lets the iPod Shuffle use accessories built for the standard iPod dock connector.

"We were a little bit late coming to market," said Gordon Tetreault, a director of sales and marketing at Maxell. But, he said, the iPod add-ons now make up 20 per cent of Maxell's accessories business. "It's a huge business."

The company, which does have a significant presence at Macworld, is using its well-known brand to land its gear on the shelves of mass-market retailers like Tower Records, Walgreens and Rite Aid.

"We're one of the only name brands out there," Tetreault said.

Small Dog Electronics, known for its business of selling discontinued and refurbished Macs, along with new ones, has also gotten in on the act. In addition to selling older-model iPods and other companies' accessories, the business has its own line of add-ons, including two new products announced this week.

Small Dog also set up PodJungle, a separate Web site devoted to such add-ons.

"Finding your way through the jungle of iPod accessories, cases and add-ons is difficult even for a techno-geek like me," Small Dog owner Don Mayer said in a statement announcing the new venture.

And plenty of smaller operations are still trying to jump on the Pod-wagon.

At both the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and last week's Macworld there were small booths, with start-ups looking to find distributors for their collection of iPod gear.

One of those at Macworld was Case-ari, founded by a group of engineers who had a background in making cases for Weber grills. But the company saw a niche for affordable leather cases and decided to throw its hat into the ring.

The company started last year by developing a prototype for the iPod Mini. But when Apple introduced the nano, the group switched gears and released a leather nano case instead.

A few weeks later, when the video iPod was introduced, the Case-ari crew was ready, ordering one immediately. As soon as it arrived, the team sent one of its number on the first plane to China.

"We said we can do this," said Richard Jones, who heads Case-ari's sales effort. "If we can get them to sell for $30, we've got a winner."

CNET News.com's Michelle Meyers contributed to this report.