Does the title of this column surprise you? If so, you may not realize that the Apple iPod touch has audio inputs in its connectors, suggesting the possibility of VoIP functionality. How is this even possible you ask?

Believe it or not, it's actually quite simple.

The fight for VoIP

Because the iPod touch is fully equipped with a wireless transceiver and you're capable of connecting to the Internet via Wi-Fi, the most important element of VoIP is already in place. Next, with the help of a headset that includes a microphone, you can connect to any number of VoIP services.

But the real issue is how you connect to those VoIP services. Unlike a Palm Treo, which enables you to download a service such as Skype Mobile, the iPod touch won't do anything of the sort. But before you lose all hope, consider the fact that your saving grace is waiting in the wings to help you: the hacker community.

Hackers to the rescue?

Simply put, the hacker community has been the most influential and important part of the entire iPhone saga. And because both the iPod touch and the iPhone are practically one and the same, hacking an iPhone is just like hacking an iPod touch. Sure, there are some differences here and there, but by and large, if you can hack an iPhone, you can hack an iPod touch.

Right now, there are no VoIP programs available to iPod touch owners. But let's be honest with ourselves: how long do we really think it'll take for such a program to hit the web?

Now that we know it can be done, what does this mean for Apple and all of its worldwide carriers? Simply put, it could be substantial.

Maybe the iPod touch is better

Not only does the iPod touch retail for about $100 (£48) less than the iPhone, it doesn't require the expensive contracts with mobile phone carriers and it's actually quite a nice product.

But in the end, would it even matter to Apple? More often than not, the average iPhone user will probably not dish out another large sum of money just to get free VoIP on their iPod touch and I'm sceptical of Apple's willingness to allow such an exploit to continue. After all, this is a company that bricked iPhones.

But at what point does Apple simply ignore VoIP on the iPod touch? Certainly it would help generate sales and as long as its mobile phone partners are unable to witness a sizable change in their iPhone profits, Apple will probably stay free from the prying eyes of AT&T, O2, T-Mobile and others.

Apple may win out

Simply put, a VoIP-equipped iPod touch may not be as bad to Apple as some may think. Sure, it could hurt iPhone sales, but in the end, that could probably be offset by the increase in iPod touch sales. And if that's true and iPod touch users don't all enter the VoIP space, look for Apple to laugh all the way to the bank.