PROTECTIVE CASE FOR ADDING WIRELESS FUNCTIONALITY TO A HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE

1 . A protective case, the protective case comprising a first connector via which said protective case can connect to a corresponding connector of a handheld electronic device, and a first radio operable to communicate in accordance with a wireless communication protocol.

2 . The protective case of claim 1 comprising a second connector via which said protective case can connect to a third device while said protective case is connected to said handheld electronic device via said first connector.

3 . The protective case of claim 1 , wherein said first radio is operable to broadcast user profile information associated with a user of said handheld electronic device.

4 . The protective case of claim 3 , wherein said user profile information comprises one or more of:

affiliations of a user of said handheld electronic device;

items currently being worn and/or used by said user of said handheld electronic device is;

products recommended by said user of said handheld electronic device;

a URL of an online profile of said user.

5 . The protective case of claim 1 comprising comprises flash memory that is operable to function as a USB mass storage device.

6 . The protective case of claim comprising circuitry operable to determine a location of said system based on communications between said first radio and one or more tags.

7 . The protective case of claim 1 , wherein said system comprises a rubber or plastic body with an antenna and circuitry embedded therein.

8 . A system comprising:

a handheld electronic device that comprises a first radio operable to communicate in accordance with a first wireless communication protocol;

a protective case mounted to said handheld electronic device, wherein said protective case comprises a second radio that is operable to communicate in accordance with a second wireless communication protocol.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein said system is operable to:

in response to a detection that said system is approaching another device, exchange information with said other device via said second radio, wherein:

said information is for establishing a wireless connection between said first radio and said other device;

at least part of said information is exchanged while said other device is out-of-range of said first radio.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein said first radio is a Bluetooth radio.

11 . The system claim 8 , wherein said system is operable to:

determine whether a destination device for which said MMS or SMS message is destined is within range of said second radio;

choose which of said first radio and said second radio to use for transmitting said MMS or SMS based on said determination; and

transmit said MMS or SMS message via said chosen radio.

12 . A method performed by a protective case that comprises a first radio and a first connector, the method comprising:

receiving first data from said handheld electronic device via said first connector;

transmitting said first data via said first radio;

receiving, via said first radio, second data from another device; and

communicating said second data to said handheld electronic device via said first connector.

13 . The method of claim 12 , comprising determining a location of said protective case based on said second data.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein said second data is received from one or more tags operable to communicate in accordance with ISO-18000-7 protocols.

15 . The method of claim 12 , comprising, prior to said transmitting said first data, processing said first data to make it suitable for transmission via said first radio.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein:

said first data is received from said handheld electronic device in the form of an SMS or MMS message; and

said first radio transmits said first data utilizing frequency spectrum that is unlicensed in the location in which said first radio performs said transmitting.

17 . The method of 12 , wherein:

said first data and said second data comprise information for setting up a connection between a radio of said handheld electronic device and said other device;

said transmitting of said first data is in response to detecting that said case is approaching said other device;

said transmitting of said first data and receiving of said second data occur while said other device is out-of-range of said radio of said handheld electronic device.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein said radio of said handheld electronic device is a Bluetooth radio.