Apple and Cisco have recently resolved the dispute over the ‘iPhone’ title. Although Cisco has had the name registered since 2000, something the company said Apple was aware of, the two corporations agreed to share.
Now there will be two ‘iPhones’?! The iPhone that Linksys, a branch of Cisco, is producing is a phone used for Internet telecommunication services. With services such as Skype and features including web browsers and access to music and videos, the Linksys iPhone is a convenient tool for people who utilize Internet phone systems and don't want the hassle of speaking into the microphone of their computer. It basically acts as a regular house line phone would, only you are communicating via the Internet and, thus, have access to other online features. Most are compatible with Macs and PCs and eliminate the costs of information calls (411) and phone bills all together.
The iPhone that Apple is planning to release in June is a cellphone with unbelievable capabilities. Behind the ridiculous graphics on a widescreen touchscreen, the phone offers new texting and voice mail features and Internet technologies.
Although the two phones have the same basic purpose, they are in different markets and, therefore, not competitors. I can see why Cisco would have taken a settlement being that Apple's iPhone would not be taking any of their profits or customer base, yet, I don't see why Apple took the name in the first place. They knew the 'iPhone' was already registered, and it's not like they couldn't have sold something like 'iTel' instead.
Interestingly enough, both products can be viewed online through the company homepages, and the domain name iphone.com actually belongs to an Internet phone company. I would be interested in whether or not the settlement touched on online marketing for these products and what trademark laws will be enforced in ecommerce.
No comments:
Post a Comment