You know iPod has got a serious contender on its hands when major manufacturing companies rush to bring out accessories almost before the units of Microsoft’s Zune player hit the shelves.

Belkin are undoubtedly the largest and they are amongst the first to bring out accessories that add a fresh dimension to the MP3 player.

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The TuneBase FM transmitter is available for £45. It clips on to the bottom of the Zune, and features a 3.5mm audio line-out for use with cars with cassette adaptors or MP3 audio line-in. It’s LCD displays the FM frequency and memory selection.

Also available is the TunePower, which extends the battery of the Zune up to 6 hours, and features a kickstand so that you don’t have to hold the device to watch video. It comes with an AC power adaptor, and a protective case to prevent damage to the connector. It will cost around the £60 mark.

Protective coverings for the Zune include an Acrylic Case, available for £30, and a Folio Kickstand, also for £30. For the same price you can also get a Holster Case and Neoprene Sports Armband Case. Slightly cheaper are the Sports Jacket Case with Armband for £20, and the ClearScreen Overlay for £15.

So did we leave anything out? Oh, yes, the Zune player itself. If you’re thinking of all these funky, competitively priced accessories that make it fun to own and fun to be seen with you’d better make sure you have a Zune player to play with.

Microsoft looks set to keep improving its first offerings with whole host of new features some of which will come as add-ons and others which will be embedded in new players. So Zune has all the markings of what Apple has feared all along: an iPod killer that works exactly where Apple is weak and has the money and reach to get to all those iPod fans who are beginning to get fed up with Apple’s weaknesses.