Russound has recently acquired Dana Innovations' patented iPort concept that enables PCs to integrate iPod control and audio-file transfer via the in-wall dock, integrating and synchronising the audio system with a media library on a Mac or PC. Now Russound plans to introduce a few products that are designed to integrate iPod media players with whole home systems.

Russound aims the iPod to become a music server, rather than a portable media player, which would make Apple's 'music player' an even stronger product. “More than just a sign of a great product, we view this as an important trend that will continue to gain momentum as more consumers use their iPods as music servers rather than simple portable players," said Charlie Porritt, Russound’s vice president of sales to Residential Systems.

According to Dana Innovations, Russound is the right company for the job after its success with the iBridge Dock. “Russound is ideally positioned to utilise our proprietary, patented innovations because of their strength in multi-room audio product systems,” said Shawn Sugarman, CEO of Dana Innovations.