Peripherals distributor, Conexus, has bolstered its iPod accessories portfolio through a new exclusive deal with US-based iHomeaudio.

Kicking off the relationship with the iH5 iPod Clock Radio in April, the Sydney distie sees the partnership as the start of a long-term relationship.

The iH5 is a remote control AM/FM clock radio with a slot to insert an iPod. Users can wake up to an alarm, the radio, or content from their iPod.

Conexus marketing director, Mark Daly, said the company had seen a gap in the Australian marketplace for some form of clock radio device for the iPod.

"[The iH5] had been very successful in America and we would have made it available earlier, however, the US radio in it had to be tweaked for the local market," he said.

iHomeaudio also boasted of several interesting products in the pipeline which would be made available during the course of the year, Daly said.

Conexus had been working with iHomeaudio since the second half of 2005, providing input on the local market's requirements, he said. It stitched up the bulk of the deal at CES in January.

The iH5 is destined for the distributor's usual retailers such as JB Hi-Fi and Harvey Norman, in addition to Apple Centres and Apple's own online store.

Conexus announced its intentions to focus on the iPod accessories market with the launch of the iPersonality site mid-last year.