Folks in the tech and communications industry were rather surprised when a product called the iPhone appeared back in mid-December—but it was a VoIP wireless handset from Cisco subsidiary Linksys, rather than a hybrid iPod/mobile phone from Apple.
So when Apple Inc. CEO Steve Jobs introduced the company’s forthcoming mobile phone/widescreen iPod/Internet communications device at Macworld yesterday under the name iPhone, more than a few eyebrows shot up. Even though Apple’s device won’t hit market until mid-year, two phone products using the same name looked like a trademark battle waiting to happen. But scuttlebutt as late as this morning indicated everything was kosher: Apple and Cisco had been in negotiations about Apple’s use of the name, an agreement had been worked out, and Cisco expected Apple to sign it imminently.
