“Maybe Apple will get to call its cell phone the iPhone after all,” David Berlind blogs for ZDNet. “Today, a trusted source forwarded to me via email the following summary detailing the history of the trademark and the secret negotiations between Apple and Cisco that are underway right now, as I write this blog:”
• Apple has known about the iPhone trademark for years and approached Cisco starting in December 2001
• Cisco declined because of existing and planned product lines
• Apple has approached Cisco 3 times over the past year for rights to the iPhone trademark
• Cisco again declined because of existing and planned product lines
• More recently (last few weeks) high level negotiations for a “shared approach”
• It seems that in this case both an Apple cell phone and a Cisco VOIP phone would co-exist with the iPhone branding
• I think these discussions are still active and ongoing
Full article with much more here.
Related articles:
Report: Apple to ‘touch off nuclear war’ with ‘iPhone’ that’s more ‘pocket Mac’ than mobile phone – January 07, 2007
22-year Apple vet: ‘I am 99% confident we will see an Apple phone next week’ – January 04, 2007
Analysts: Skyworks may get big chunk of Apple’s ‘iPod phone’ business – January 03, 2007
Why is Apple’s rumored ‘iPod phone’ so hotly anticipated? – January 02, 2007
Study shows huge market potential for Apple iPod Phone – January 02, 2007
Apple ‘iPhone’ could disrupt mobile service distribution channel – December 26, 2006
The Register’s Ray: Apple ‘iPhone’ will fail – December 26, 2006
RUMOR: Second leaked Apple ‘iPhone’ image shows chameleonic trackpad – December 21, 2006
RUMOR: Apple ‘iPhone’ photo leaked? – December 21, 2006
Linksys announces iPhone family of Voice Over IP handheld phones and devices – December 18, 2006
RUMOR: Apple on track with ‘iPhone’ release, no delay – December 16, 2006
Fortune: Steve Jobs’ Apple ‘iPhone’ could upend entire US wireless distribution model – December 15, 2006
RUMOR: Apple ‘iPhone’ may include JAJAH VoIP software – December 15, 2006
RUMOR: Apple ‘iPhone’ details surface as release date grows closer – December 15, 2006
Broadcom wins SoC bid in ‘upcoming stealth phone’ coming soon from ‘major consumer device company’ – December 15, 2006
Gizmodo guarantees ‘iPhone’ will be announced on Monday – December 14, 2006
Report: Apple expected to debut ‘iPhone’ – December 14, 2006
Analyst describes Apple ‘iPhone’ featuring metal case in multiple colors with virtual click-wheel – December 14, 2006
UBS analyst: Apple may launch MVNO, serve as own carrier for ‘iPhone’ – December 13, 2006
Apple using ‘iPhone’ as diversion? – December 11, 2006
Apple’s ‘iPhone’ silence drives rumor mill crazy – December 08, 2006
BusinessWeek: Wish List for Apple ‘iPhone’ – December 08, 2006
Analyst: Apple iPhone economics aren’t that compelling – December 08, 2006
CNET editor Kanellos: ‘Apple iPhone will largely fail’ – December 07, 2006
Apple ‘iPhone’ could cause Nokia, Palm, Motorola, and RIM to really start to sweat – December 07, 2006
Apple shares fall as CIBC sees ‘iPhone’ release delayed – December 07, 2006
Analyst expects 16GB flash-based Apple iPod video player, 4-8GB flash-based ‘iPhone’ models – December 07, 2006
Prudential: Apple ‘iPhone’ to sport iPod click wheel; video iPod by Q2 – December 06, 2006
RUMOR: Apple’s smart phone project to feature ‘extensive integration with Mac OS X’ – December 05, 2006
Apple begins ‘iPhone’ production – December 05, 2006
Apple needs to think different about data security for ‘iPhone’ – December 05, 2006
NVIDIA graphics chip for next-gen Apple video iPod delayed? – December 04, 2006
Kevin Rose: Dual-battery Apple ‘iPhone’ coming in January; $249 for 4GB, $449 for 8GB – December 03, 2006
Apple applies for ‘Mobile Me’ trademark – January 11, 2006
When will this madness end?
http://www.iphone.org
Apple’s had it registered for several years.
Well, I think they should call it something else, but I can see why they would want to keep the iBranding. Everyone’s calling it that anyway. So, why has Cisco been sitting on it all these years? $$$
have we lost our branding wand Apple??
This could be an opportunity to start an new name series
Why not just call it iPod mobile? It will primarily be an iPod, after all.
i dont care what its called. i just want one 😀
iPhone is an awful name – after so many “i” products, it’s dull, repetitive, unimaginative, and boring.
The same for iTV.
Let’s hope this is a bad rumors, and Apple comes up with something that can stand on its own alongside “Mac” and “iPod” instead of merely being derivative.
Case in point – imagine how dull the Nintendo Wii would have been if it stuck by its codename “Revolution.” There’s nothing more non-revolutionary than to call something Revolutionary with a capital R.
I don’t care what it’s called as long as it’s released.
NewType,
iTV is just a code name. That product will be re-introduced on Tuesday under its official name. I wouldn’t mind if they kept the iTV moniker.
As for iPhone, that’s also a good name because it’s catch, has mental tie-ins with Apple, which is a good thing, and simple.
Share some of your ideas for a better name.
His name will be Squishy.
Just call it the “iFone” and be done with it.
All a diversion. The wireless iPod will be much more than a “phone.” It will be much more than a phone that plays music. It will not be called “iPhone.” There’s a lot more you can do with wireless connectivity than make phone calls.
as near as i can tell through whois apple doesnt have it registered just because it goes to the apple page doesnt mean that apple owns it.
“I will call you Squisy, and you will be my Squishy…”
eheheheheehe
I love Dory… 😀
I doubt this rumor even assuming there’ll be an Apple mobile phone. It’s so unlike Apple, not to mention the possibility of PR and advertising nightmares. Apple has no control over the quality of Cisco iPhone and any problems with it could potentially sabotage Apple iPhone. Or perhaps they get angry for not finding the features after watching a Cisco iPhone ad. A lot of customers won’t make the distinction between Cisco iPhone and “Apple iPhone; an iPhone is an iPhone.
Also, speaking of branding, a pod has nothing to do with MP3 player, yet the iPod brand is one of the strongest consumer brand. I believe in Apple marketing (changing iBook to MacBook notwithstanding) to come up with a catchy brand.
From To Allen,
Please try writing a complete sentence. I’m not being critical, I just have no idea what you are trying to say.
why not iFone?
It’s gonna be the MacPhone
Hmmm. See thread Jan 08, 2007 at 12:04.
I am surprised that no one has noted that Apple – Not Cisco – has held the iPhone trademark in Europe for years. I’d love to see a complete listing of the trademark internationally.
Some names that are already in use and way better than the dorky “iPhone”
RAZR by Motorola
LG Chocolate by LG
Blackjack by Samsung
Blackberry by RIM
BTW, I never claimed I could come up with a better name, but I can recognize a bad name for what it is, and iPhone is pretty low on the creativity meter. Just comparing it to some of the competition shows that you can avoid using “i” and “phone” in the same word and still come up with a catchy name.
I totally agree with NewType
The “vPhone”… as in VIDEO!
A cell phone with the video iChat built in.
A Mac user can establish a 4-way (self and 3 others) conference between any combination of iChat phones and Macs.
An iChat phone can call up iChat on your Mac for streaming your music or videos… a video iPod with your full library of music, video, and just about anything else on your Mac… hmmm… video while your away from home for security.
When in BlueTooth proximity to your Mac, the iChat phone uses VoIP to avoid cell phone charges. Seamlessly auto connects to cell network when out of range.
iChat-Lite software for XP and Vista to be released in 6 months. It probably won’t be able to establish conference mode due to Vista’s lack of video abilities (Core Video).
This new iChat will destroy BOTH Vista and conventional cell phone sales.
Sharing a name? Not Apple-like at all.
I have faith that Jobs has the sense to avoid the iPhone nomenclature. After all, the past few years have produced really great product names that avoided the knee-jerk, predictable “i” prefix. It was original when Apple first did it with the iMac and iPod, was still original for iTunes, iMovie, and iPhoto, but was definitely getting tired by iChat and most recently, iWeb.
So to help people get off the “iPhone” fixation, I present the following:
Great Name: Final Cut Pro
Awful Name: iMovie Pro
Great Name: Motion
Awful Name: iMotion
Great Name: Aperture
Awful Name: iPhoto Pro
Great Name: QuickTime
Awful Name: iVideo
Great Name: Keynote
Awful Name: iPresent or (shudder) iSlides
Great Name: GarageBand
Awful Name: iMusic
Great Name: Pages
Awful Name: iWrite
Great Name: Might Mouse
Awful Name: iMouse
Just imagine how dorky Apple’s product line would be sounding if all the above products went the lazy “i” route. I may be harsh-sounding about this, but I really, really hope “iPhone” remains a Cisco trademark because it sure is anything but catchy or inventive.
Here’s to hoping for somthing inventive in terms of the name.