When iPhone 3.0 comes out later this year, we'll see iPhone apps tied to special-purpose accessories.

Imagine a universal remote that lets you use your iPhone to control every box in your home-entertainment system. Or a portable RFID- and barcode-scanning module that turns your iPhone into a tiny store clerk — or comparison shopper — letting you find and buy stuff just by waving your phone at it.

These are just two suggestions from Wired.com readers for accessory-powered iPhone 3.0 applications – or, to use the term we coined, dongleware. We put up a call for suggestions, and you responded with loads of great ideas. We figured, what better way to give wannabe-millionaire developers ideas — and get what consumers want in return? Win-win.

iPhone

3.0 won't be launching until summer, but developers can get plenty done in two or three months. To help speed up the process, here are your top-voted ideas in a nice and tidy list. Drum roll, please.

Barcode/RFID/Magnetic-Stripe Reader

This idea got the most votes — an accessory that acts as a barcode scanner and maybe triples as a magnetic-card and RFID tag reader.

Here's how it could be useful: It would essentially turn the iPhone into a miniature checkout stand. The barcode scanner would register a product's price, and then customers can simply swipe their credit card into the magnetic card reader. Similarly, the radio-frequency identifier would scan products containing RFID tags, such as library books, and send that information to the iPhone. In theory, the iPhone app transfers the data via the internet to complete the transaction.

Wouldn't it be interesting (and a little weird) to see iPhones or iPod Touches at the checkout counter of every store?

This could also make a great tool for consumers to do on-the-fly comparison shopping while they browse brick-and-mortar stores.

*(*Thanks, Jason, for submitting this suggestion!)

Bluetooth Stereo Headphones

This suggestion isn't mindblowing, but it's clearly a product consumers demand: Some wireless Bluetooth headphones for the iPhone so we can finally ditch those crappy earbuds. This should be easy, because

Apple says iPhone 3.0 will support stereo Bluetooth accessories.

(A hat tip to, er, "Anonymous" for submitting this idea.)

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Keyboard__

Another predictable gadget in demand: Wired.com readers want an iPhone-compatible external keyboard. This will be extremely useful for business users to speed up writing e-mails or documents. This might even come in handy for the procrastinating student, who needs to finish up that essay while riding the bus to class.

(Kudos to Keyboard Guy!)

Bluetooth Universal Remote

This is one of our favorites. Wired.com readers are really into the idea of clearing out the e-clutter on their coffee tables and relying solely on the iPhone as a universal remote.

Better yet would be a super-sophisticated universal remote that pairs up with a receiver using Bluetooth. The receiver would contain infrared blasters to send the signals necessary to control your home entertainment equipment. Wow! Quite clever.

(Thanks, Allen!)

__Automobile Diagnostics

__This idea would make life a lot easier for automobile repair workers or car hobbyists. The accessory would hook your iPhone up to your car engine's OBD-II port (which every car sold in the U.S. since 1996 has) and communicate with an app that performs a full engine diagnosis. Sounds intense. Anyone up for the challenge?

(Nice one, Steve Dy!)

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Light Switch Controller

__Hmmm — dongleware to control the lights in your house? Z-Wave already has a similar product, but it requires owning electronics embedded with

Z-Wave's wireless technology. This suggestion is an iPhone accessory that simply communicates with your lights, but it would require installing receivers on the lighting systems throughout your home. For the time being, we don't view this as a very practical product.

*(*Thanks, ROCKERIMANMANAIFJ!)

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Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.com