Apple and Cisco extend iPhone talks until Feb 21. Really?

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Saturday, 17 February 2007 18:11

Your IT - Mobility

The drama between Apple and Cisco over the iPhone trademark shows no signs of abating just yet, despite the briefest of possible statements at Cisco’s website that the new deadline is Feb 21. Who wants to bet that it might go on for some time yet?

According to a news release at Cisco’s website, “Apple has asked Cisco for another extension on the deadline for Apple to respond to our lawsuit. Cisco has agreed to give Apple an extension until Wednesday, Feb. 21. Cisco is fully committed to using the extra time to reach a mutually beneficial resolution”.

Well, at least Apple and Cisco are still in discussions over the iPhone, with the action still kept well out of the courts, despite lawyers no doubt still earning big bucks while negotiations continue apace.

The big question on everyone’s mind is what deal Apple and Cisco will have to do to keep each other happy. Cisco doesn’t just want money – like Apple, they already have plenty of cash to keep the home fires burning.

Cisco wants operability with Apple’s software and hardware, something that we all know Apple likes to keep very close to its chest. Apple seems unlikely to want or need any of Cisco’s technology – the only thing they seem to want is use of the iPhone name, as it goes so nicely with the rest of Apple’s ‘i’ products – iMac, iPod, iLife, iPhoto, iMovie and others.

Of course we all know that Apple doesn’t always get its way. After all, the iTV was renamed the AppleTV, because iTV is already in use elsewhere, not least as the name of a British TV network. Given that iTV was taken, Apple must have decided not to bother fighting that battle, or paying for use of the name.

Given that Apple changed their tune on the iTV, any judge would likely be made aware of this, and would question why the ‘iPhone’ couldn’t also be similarly renamed.

Apple Phone is an option that merges nicely with AppleTV, but iPhone just sounds so cool along with the iPod branding it’s very understandable why Apple wants it. ‘aiphone’ sounds like it could also be an alternative, especially as it has the same pronunciation, but unfortunately for Apple, ‘aiphone’ products have been around for years from another company – you only need to type it into Google to see for yourself. I also noticed it’s the brand name of the intercom on my apartments – so Apple can’t use that one.

So, the Cisco and Apple game is still in play. There are a few more days until February 21… but I don’t think we’ll truly see a resolution by this date. Do you?