Mophie (http://www.mophie.com) has released the US$79.95 juice pack air, a rechargeable external battery for the iPod touch. The form-fitting case purportedly delivers seven additional hours of power to iPod touch devices in a choice of metallic red, blue or gunmetal black colors.

The juice pack offers the convenience of an extended battery life and the protection of a case, all with an ergonomically designed, soft-touch, non-slip rubberized finish, according says Ross Howe, sales and product development director of Mophie. An included USB cable enables you to simultaneously charge and sync your iPod touch to iTunes without having to remove it from the juice pack air.

Intelligent power distribution instructs the iPod touch to always drain out the juice pack first. When you’re done with the juice pack air for iPod touch, simply detach the case and you’ll still have a fully charged iPod touch. An Integrated LED status indicator tells you exactly how much “juice” is left and also displays how much time remains during the charging process.