Apple’s ‘Vingle’ trademark application sparks speculation

“What is Steve Jobs going to pull out of the sleeve of that black turtleneck next? Domination of the Web, if you believe the trademarks Apple Computer Inc. filed at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office on Oct. 7,” Frank Ahrens reports for The Washington Post. “In three filings, Apple — which made headlines last week by rolling out the next generation of iPod, one that can play video (what a beauty business plan: keep selling the same thing, over and over) — asked for a trademark on something it calls ‘Vingle.'”

Ahrens reports, “According to the filings, Vingle is, well, let’s just give you the company’s language, because it’s pretty sprawling in its scope. Vingle will or could comprise: ‘Telecommunication services, namely, electronic transmission of streamed and downloadable audio and video files via computer and other communications networks; providing on-line chat rooms, bulletin boards and community forums for the transmission of messages among computer users concerning entertainment, music, concerts, videos, radio, television, film, news, sports, games and cultural events; web casting services; delivery of messages by electronic transmission; provision of connectivity services and access to electronic communications networks, for transmission or reception of audio, video or multimedia content…’ and so on, including search engines and a global network.”

Ahrens reports, “But, wait: There’s more! Two other filings say Vingle could include not only hardware (new computers and peripherals) but also a chain of retail stores.”

Full article here.

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81 Comments

  1. It’s a video phone. As in Video and Jingle. It would replace the phones as we know it. A new device that used ichat av with a phone like thing. The system will replace AT&T and all the other phone companies.

    Can you go out this weekend? Sure, Vingle me later.

  2. Ventricularly Independent Nihilistic Gonad-Luring Electronics
    Vertically Integrated Notional Gadget for Light Entertainment
    Viscerally Intentional Narcissistic Gentleman’s Lurid Erotica
    Vascularly Intrepid Nonsensical Glowing Light Element
    Vortex Instigating Nimble Gravity Lightening Engine
    Vaporous Ideas Normally Generate Losing Exercises
    Viscous Internal kNob for Greasing Love Entrances
    Volubly Inspirational Nerdy Guy’s Love Emissions
    Vibrating Internal Nexus for Girl-Like Excesses
    Vehicle for Injecting Nice Glue-Like Essence

    Come to think of it, vingle is quite resistant to parody acronym creating exercises.

  3. I think Apple just filed this to mess with Gates. ” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”wink” style=”border:0;” />

    I dunno though. I don’t think Apple owns the Vingle.com domain (which was originally registered a couple years ago). Apple’s nameservers aren’t being used for it. And GoDaddy is a sleazy registrar; not the kind Apple is inclined to (or does) use.

    … unless of course they wanted to use subterfuge to fuel wild speculation (and drive Gates crazy).

    Did i say i think Apple is just messing with Gates?

    MW: Opened, as in “Vingle has opened a whole new can of worms.”

  4. I think the last option (a placeholder) is somewhat unlikely. This is a trademark application, not patent where companies file sometimes to be defensive or to prevent others from developing the same idea. The only thing you get is a prevention for other companies to use “Vingle” as a brand in the same target market. Unlike iPhone and such, Vingle does not fit Apple’s naming pattern for consumer product and does not sound very special at all. That leads me to believe Apple already has already developed services and business plan and is waiting for the perfect moment to unveil it.

  5. The “i” whatever name is a fad, a trend….fad and trend names eventually get old. Apple does have to get itself out of this “i” fashion name trap.
    We will see what Vingle is or isn´t.
    Like everything else that has been predicted in recent times, it is wrong.

  6. Apples “i”names will someday become a cliche, out of touch, out of fashion. Apple does need to start moving in other name directions.

    I just hope vingle is not pronounced as a new i-word, as in:
    V – iNgle.

  7. It sounds vaguely Yiddish.

    “Oy, what’s with the vingle already….meshuganah….”

    Has Apple ever made up words for their products before? Usually they use a simple single word (Bonjour, Rendezvous, Quicktime) or just sticking an i onto the front of another word.

  8. V-virtual
    I-infastruture of
    N-networking
    G-groups with
    L-loose
    E-expansion

    Something chat-oriented with loose expansion- meaning it has no boundaries- like the internet……

    The ‘of’ and ‘with’ would make the acronym sound bad and thats why Apple didnt include them

    Thats the best I could come up with

  9. I’VE GOT IT!!!

    A ‘Vingle’ is an Apple store in a booth…

    Think cash machine/ATM size box in a wall:
    1) search for your single or music video or ringtone
    2) swipe your credit card
    3) plug in your shuffle, nano, vPod, iPhone, etc
    4) watch & listen without even having a computer, or take home and sync up to Mac/PC

    Apple mainly sell content (singles & video) but the Mac mini inside also offers to deliver computers and accessories to your home. Apple stores are about to go from 100+ to 10,000+ in every mall very quickly.

    “Can you Vingle a movie or U2’s latest album on the way home?”

    MW: right – could I be?

  10.  
    This feedback log reads like phenomenological hermeneutics.

    Since nobody seemingly can make sense of the application, then, possibly, Apple’s trademark protection request may be too descriptive (not distinctive enough) to qualify for protection.

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