$1 Billion Dollar iPod Business

NYTimes reports on the $1 billion dollar iPod accessory business:

Rarely does one product foster such a sizable industry around it. Many of the iPod accessory makers, like Belkin, Kensington or Logitech, cut their teeth making accessories for personal computers. But no one product, not even the Macintosh, created the kind of accessory mania that the iPod has.

Apple is increasing its participation in this market and also exerting more control with its "Made for iPod" logo licensing. Meanwhile, Apple remains tight lipped about the direction they are heading with the iPod. As a result, accessory makers pay close attention to the rumor sites to find out what's in the pipeline.

Belkin's director of Product Manangement was said to be listening to all the rumors leading up to Macworld San Francisco for any insight into which direction Apple may be heading.