Apple Peels to arrive in the US this week

GoSolarUSA (http://www.GoSolarUSA.com) says the first Apple Peel 520 products will arrive in the U.S. this week. The device purportedly lets the iPod touch operate as a smartphone.

When used with Apple’s iPod touch, the Apple Peel 520 functions as a protective skin that adds mobile voice and text messaging capabilities to the touch-screen media player. GoSolar announced last week that September’s initial manufacturing run is already sold out.

The Apple Peel 520 is the creation of 22-year-old Chinese programmer Pan Yong. The gadget slips over the iPod touch’s case and includes a battery, dock connector and SIM card. Once the proper software is installed, the Apple Peel adds the ability to make voice calls and text messages using the touch.

When fully charged, the Apple Peel’s 800mAh battery offers nearly five hours of talk time and 120 hours of standby use. Pricing will be around US$60.