Apple launch the Apple iPhone

jmarko

-1- wrote:

It could end up being called something else yet.

Apparently Cisco own the trademark to the name iPhone and have done since 2000.

You would think a big company like Apple would do a simple search for a trademark before announcing to the world their products new name.

http://business.bostonherald.com/technologyNews/view.bg?articleid=176529

they did do a search. there were/are ongoing negotiations on the use of the name.

jmarko

jmarko

redux wrote:

does it have wi-fi access and a VoIP client?

it does have wifi and, as it will be running OSX, it shouldn't be a prob to whack voip software on it if it's not on it already.

i think people should stop comparing it to a phone. you'll find it's much more of a handheld computer with audio, video and comms capabilities. and on that basis it will be difficult to beat.

also, someone said that it'll be available free once it's on a uk mobile contract. we can knock that on the head now! the iPod is a premium brand and Apple views the iPhone in the same way. they'll not allow it to be free - certainly not just because everyone else's is free. Free and cheap are not always good ideas when you're trying to protect a brand's quality proposition.

jmarko

kai666

jmarko wrote:

it does have wifi and, as it will be running OSX, it shouldn't be a prob to whack voip software on it if it's not on it already.
jmarko

You wouldn´t be able to install 3rd party apps on the iphone

http://www.esato.com/board/viewtopic.php?topic=138997&start=180

Omertron

jmarko wrote:

i think people should stop comparing it to a phone. you'll find it's much more of a handheld computer with audio, video and comms capabilities. and on that basis it will be difficult to beat.

But it is a phone Why shouldn't it be compared to a phone?

If you don't compare it to a phone, its a $600 wide-screen iPod that you have to pay $50-$100 per month for 2 years to use (Cingular, the American mobile phone operator will still charge you for it regardless). So this iPod will cost you circa $1,800-$3,000 (£900-£1,500).

Add this to the fact that Apple have not gained FCC approval to even sell the device, there is a trademark dispute with Cisco over the name and it won't even be released in the states until June and over here until end of the year (read this time next year if you are lucky)..... It sounds great :rolleyes:

redux

jmarko wrote:

they did do a search. there were/are ongoing negotiations on the use of the name.

They don't seem to be going too well.

SAN JOSE, Calif., January 10, 2007 - Cisco® today announced that it has filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against Apple, Inc., seeking to prevent Apple from infringing upon and deliberately copying and using Cisco's registered iPhone trademark.

http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/2007/corp_011007.html

-1-

Yeah they did a search but apparently Negotiations broke up just before Apple ceo went on stage to announce the name.

A bit daft I think if the name wasn't confirmed as theirs at that moment in time.

kai666

from estato.com...

To all those considering going to the US in the summer and picking one up like i was going to do..read this (http://www.mobileburn.com/news.jsp?Id=3036&source=SIDEBAR) :

"This hints at just how much Apple was, and remains today, in the driver's seat when it came to a potential iPhone deal. While Cingular does have a multi-year exclusive deal with Apple to sell the device, Apple has been responsible for defining the phone's specifications, setting the price, and building the user interface. Apple is also responsible for the decision to not allow any 3rd party applications to be installed on the iPhone, as well as the decision to not include 3G data support in the initial iPhone. The fact that there will only be only on-screen AT&T or AT&T/Cingular branding, and no such markings on the exterior of the iPhone, also shows that this really is Apple's baby, and that Cingular is just happy to have been invited to tag along for the ride.

The iPhone will be available at Apple and Cingular retail stores, online, and, at Apple's discretion, possibly even eventually offered at large retailers such as Walmart. The only way to obtain one will be to enter a new 2 year service agreement with Cingular, or to extend an existing agreement for 2 years. The device will be locked, and Cingular's Lurie joked that Apple's engineers would be looking at ways to prevent unlocking once the device is released, something that would not be all that surprising."

How much does that blow for the rest of the world?? A whole lot cause knowing Apple they will do a good job of locking the phone and not allowing arbitrage opportunities.

It does make you think though that the European/world version will be totally different formt he american one and exactly why it's being released later. As people have mentionned already network providers in Europe won't bend over for Apple and this could either mean a stripped down version or a version that's even better in order to allow for different channels of media downloads.

Omertron

kai666 wrote:

The device will be locked, and Cingular's Lurie joked that Apple's engineers would be looking at ways to prevent unlocking once the device is released, something that would not be all that surprising."

Considering that they just recently allowed you to circumvent the DMCA for cell phone unlocking (only an issue in the USA), I have to wonder how long before there is a class action lawsuit against Apple to allow people to use the phone on all networks.

See HERE

Idiophreak

-1- wrote:

A bit daft I think if the name wasn't confirmed as theirs at that moment in time.

What do Apple care if someone sues them though, really.

Look at the Creative case - they proved pretty comprehensively that Apple ripped off a bunch of their patents, so Apple just paid them off out of petty cash. It's not the end of the world if they have to settle this iPhone thing as well...

teddyco

I read the article about the Cisco and Apple battle for the "iPhone" and here is a paragraph taken from the article:

"Cisco said Apple approached the company several years ago seeking to use the name, and the two Silicon Valley tech giants have been negotiating ever since to hammer out a licensing agreement. "

"Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris called Cisco’s lawsuit "silly" and said there are already several other companies using the name iPhone for products like Cisco’s that use the increasingly popular Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP."