“A search of the European Patent Office reveals a patent application from Apple entitled ‘Database programs for handheld devices’ that was published in Feb 2006,” arn reports for Mac Rumors. “As advertised, the patent describes techniques for providing access to databases from handheld devices. The application, however, incidentally points out that ‘the remote handheld device can, for example, be a wireless phone which uses a telecom server to communicate with the database program.'”
“Apple describes limitations in current implementations in that ‘the user may use a remote wireless phone to find a phone number stored in a database, but there is no convenient way for the user to place a call to that phone number.’ The patent application describes methods for accessing remote databases and hyperlinking relevant data (urls, phone numbers etc…) to perform tasks conveniently — such as dialing,” arn reports. “The application shows images of a cell phone interface demonstrating the interactions.”
Full article here.
Mac Rumors has posted a “Gallery of iPhone Patents” here.
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The San Francisco Chronicle: Apple may link cell phone, iPod – January 17, 2006
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How Apple’s Steve Jobs snookered the entire cell phone industry – October 03, 2005
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If Apple isn’t working on their own iPhone, they’re making a stupid mistake – September 12, 2005
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Piper Jaffray: Apple should develop ‘iPhone’ by themselves – September 06, 2005
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Wendland: Bill Gates is right, iPod will be replaced by smartphones – by Apple – May 13, 2005
Apple Registers iPhone Trademark in Australia – December 02, 2002
I want it. Can I pre-order an iPhone please!?
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AAPL is falling…. and it needs some good news on April the 1…………….
Another full-screen model… this will be released on the same day as the ‘true video’ iPod.
I am afraid there wil be no new product on or around April 1st. If so, an invitation to a special event wold be overdue by now.
Hmmm… any phone that can access and utilize remote telephone numbers can also stream music and any other data. You need not have a 30 Gbyte telephone. Hell, ou wouldn’t even need a 30 Gbyte iPod anymore, just stream it directly from your iMac at home.
This isn’t too far fetched being that Apple has been streaming music from one computer to another for as long as iTunes has been around, and recently they added features such as sharable photo albums in iPhoto. Other data can be sent such as maps, travel directions and other information. Imagine your iMac’s GoogleEarth video output being sent you your phone.
With Apple’s desire to make all things simpler and quicker, a photo taken by the phone can be automatically streamed to the home computer for safe storage and immediate sharing. The same things can be done for recording long phone conversations.
Multiple family/business phones can all share the same database from one iMac, auto-syncing directories on the fly, and even using the Mac for video conferencing multiple cellphones.
– or –
I could be all wrong and the iPhone is just a diversionary tactic to get the gossips and snoops away from their real April 1st announcement.
This does not bode well for Apple.
Anything Apple does will fail. It will never work. Nothing Apple has ever done has ever succeeded. So this phone cannot work. If it isn’t Linux or Windows, it’s nothing!
OS/2 was great! It should have won. Pink forever!
JD
Sounds like they are talking about linking with .Mac. You have to remember that Apple builds upon its existing products in methodical way that only becomes apparent when all the pieces start to come together. Just remember that iTunes started out life as a stand alone player/organizer.
Something’s in the air.
Is anyone bored yet ?
I feel a life coming
Any more re hashing and non eventful news and I’m out of here
It’s that bloody vapourware phone again. Dull dull dull dull dull!!!
apple please make a phone PLEASE,apple rules
What is this? pump up the hit count at MacRumors week?
They have been so out of touch with good info lately, in fact they have branched out their real inside info to another site becasue they were afraid Apple would shut them down.
They shouldn’t even be called a “rumor site” anymore.
Think Secret and LoopRumors
I googled the address in figure 8 (5201 Patrick Henry, Santa Clara, CA), and it’s the address for Filemaker. Interesting.
God, I want an Apple iPhone.
Make it the same form factor as a nano (a bit more durable though) and I’ll snap it up in a heartbeat.
Ok , I admit it.
It’s all a troll.
I’m 12 , I have a tiny dick and my breath smells.
I can’t even afford a mac as mommy has taken all my pocket money away after I spent it on gay porn.
Speaking of patents…..
Why Software Patents Suck
UNBELIEVABLE! I think I am going to retroactively patent the binary system – think of the money! I am also going to patent the © symbol – that’s going to be a HUGE money maker as well. FNA – the U.S. patent office really needs to re-think software patents – it’s currently out of control. Read the story above. NO CAN COMPUTE.
Steve: “…and that, folks, is the new 60gb “true video” iPod. Oh, and ONE MORE THING… ITS ALSO A PHONE!”
*the crowd goes wild*
That would be the biggest “one more thing…” ever.
db has it. It’s not going to be called iPhone. It’s going to be called iPod.
If they actually make one, that is.
Making an “iPhone” but branding it an iPod would be their best move. The iPod already has the name, and suddenly everyone would have to have the new one. Why carry around your ipod and your cell both at once, when you can carry one device. Would be a great move. Hope it happens, I’m actually looking for both, a new phone and ipod lol.