Apple introduced iMessage with iOS 5, intially allowing free messages to be sent between iPhones and iPads. During its 2011 debut, the service drew comparisons to Blackberry Messenger, which is seen as the remaining killer app for BlackBerry owners. The release of Mac OS X Mountain Lion expanded the functionality to MacBooks running the new OS, and rumors claim that it will soon be further expanded to iPod Nanos.

iLounge reported that Apple is working on a feature for iOS 6 to connect devices running Bluetooth 4. This would mean that iPod Nanos would be supported by iMessage, though the practicality of sending and receiving messages on the small form factor is questionable. Other Apple devices could soon be using BlueTooth 4, so every device Apple offers will have access to iMessages.

iLounge also claimed that iPads could support calling; the roundabout feature requires pairing an iPhone with the tablet. iLounge likened the report to TouchPad integration, with Apple going further than HP. The TouchPad supports putting the phone on the TouchPad and syncing content across devices. Could Apple use similar functionality to sync content across devices, basically removing the need for iTunes?

The report also claimed that the new dock connector in the iPhone 5 will feature 8 pins, not 16 or 19 as suggested by previous rumors. The news comes from two sources, along with a claim that the device's name could change in the future. iLounge is confident the connector will improve upon its predecessor in a number of ways, such as a smaller size.

Whether consumers buy into making calls from an iPad remains to be seen; the device is not exactly minimal. Much like users taking photos on the iPad, the feature seems impractical since, due to its size, the device is harder to carry and harder to hold than an iPhone or iPod Touch. On the other end of the size spectrum, the most recent iPod Nano is incredibly hard to use beyond basic functionality.

iOS 6, including the new iMessage functionality, is expected to release this fall.