Cisco introduces "iPhone" family of devices

[AppleInsider]

Cisco Systems and its Linksys division are drawing headlines and causing a stir Monday after introducing a family of Voice over IP (VoIP) devices bearing the "iPhone" product name.

Until now, analysts and members of the media have largely associated the iPhone moniker with Apple Computer's much-rumored iPod cell phone project. The iPod maker retains ownership of the iPhone.org domain name and has also filed for trademarks on the term at overseas trademark offices.

However, Cisco has claimed ownership of the iPhone mark for the past ten years and stated today that it plans to use the name as part of a larger strategic vision concerning networked homes. Its new line of iPhone devices integrate popular communication clients, like Skype and Yahoo! Messenger with Voice, to help enable real-time presence features that can allow consumers to see when their friends and family are online and ready to receive a call.

"With products in the iPhone family, callers can toggle between the free VoIP calling options available from Skype or Yahoo! and traditional landline service with the click of a button," the company said.

The seven models introduced Monday include: iPhone Cordless Internet Telephony Kit ($79.99), iPhone Dual-Mode Internet Telephony Kit ($99.99), iPhone Dual-Mode Cordless Phone for Yahoo! Messenger with Voice ($99.99), iPhone Dual-Mode Internet Telephony Kit for Skype ($179.99), iPhone Wireless-G IP Phone ($219.99), iPhone Wireless-G Phone for Skype ($199.99), and iPhone Wireless-G IP Phone ($369.99).

Cisco said its iPhone Wireless-G IP device includes a Web browser that lets customers access music, photos, and streaming video from sources on the Internet so they can combine the product with wireless video cameras to create a real-time home monitoring solution.

iPhone Wireless-G Phone for Skype

Meanwhile, the Dual-Mode model with Yahoo!Messenger allows users to program the device with a local zip code, delivering access to local business information and weather forecasts.

"As the next generation of handheld devices, Linksys iPhone voice solutions and products are changing the way people communicate with their friends, family and colleagues," said Mike Pocock, Linksys senior vice president and general manager. "They enable compelling internet services, allow consumers to know when their contacts are available for calls, and offer access to personal content like music, movies and live video cameras."

Cisco's announcements Monday do not affect Apple's own "iPhone" plans, which are still expected -- likely under a distinct product name -- in the first quarter of 2007.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[West]

That is the most disturbing image of an iPhone I've ever seen.

[saschke]

that is just wrong...

[crees!]

The seven models introduced Monday include: iPhone Cordless Internet Telephony Kit ($79.99), iPhone Dual-Mode Internet Telephony Kit ($99.99), iPhone Dual-Mode Cordless Phone for Yahoo! Messenger with Voice ($99.99), iPhone Dual-Mode Internet Telephony Kit for Skype ($179.99), iPhone Wireless-G IP Phone ($219.99), iPhone Wireless-G Phone for Skype ($199.99), and iPhone Wireless-G IP Phone ($369.99).

With all these damn models what ordinary (non-geek) consumer will know which one to get? Seriously, this is as bad as the multiple versions of Vista.

[Johnny Mozzarella]

Fake! Looks Photoshopped to me. come on Cisco you can do better!

Seriously though. Apple will give it a iPod based brand name...iPod phone

[DeaPeaJay]

I hope it's not iPod phone. THat sounds horrible. It'll be something very distinct and creative I'm sure.

And I think the average consumer will be able to tell the difference between this and the real deal. All this does is make Cisco's new phone look like a cheap Apple imitation product, one that hasn't even been released! It's incredible, people are copying Apple's products before they've even been announced!

[Johnny Mozzarella]

I just noticed that in typical Linksys fashion these devices have only PC drivers.

[Rhoq]

Apple always has the name "Apple Talk" to fall back on.

[jasenj1]

Yeah. I'll have to hunt down the marketing info, but at first glance this seems like a confusing product line up.

3 "Telephony Kits" - whatever that means, I'm guessing it's the access point.
2 "Dual mode cordless phones" - do these connect to the Telephony kits?
3 "Wireless G" phones. Maybe these talk directly to the network, no "kit" needed?

And there's two "Wireless G IP iPhones" at different prices - must be a typo somewhere in the announcement.

At the least, they sting Apple with the name, iPhone, but Apple has to have known about that so that shouldn't affect anything. All it will do is create distracting buzz and drive the stock price down for a few days.

- Jasen.

P.S. Link to their product lineup http://tinyurl.com/yhtzdm

What a mess. They have 7 different physical devices. Some of them only seem to differ by whether they use Skype or Yahoo! - i.e. what IP carrier they support.

What a mess for retailers, too. There are now seven different packages to keep track of or stock. I'd much rather see unified hardware with the options set via software.

Not impressed.

[Maestro64]

I personally think what happen is Cisco and Apple use all the same suppliers and manufactures and people their lines got crossed. Rumors that there was an iphone in the works and as suppliers and manufactures made comments about an iphone everyone jumped to the conclusion that is must be Apple.

Now you can imagine all the people at Apple and Cisco were laughing their a**es off today at everyone's surprise.

[nascarnate326]

Apple Talk works for me!
iCom (communation) mite work too.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by Maestro64

I personally think what happen is Cisco and Apple use all the same suppliers and manufactures and people their lines got crossed. Rumors that there was an iphone in the works and as suppliers and manufactures made comments about an iphone everyone jumped to the conclusion that is must be Apple.

Now you can imagine all the people at Apple and Cisco were laughing their a**es off today at everyone's surprise.

It is funny. I can't recall where, but I read one report last week that stated an iPhone would be released today.

Despite this Cisco version I'm confident that Apple will release it's own phone shortly. It has to, or risk losing iPod and iTunes customers. I can't wait to play my iTS purchased content on my iFon, iTalk, iVibe, iWhatever.

[gordy]

Well, the rumor sites were right on the whole 'iPhone' thing...just wrong on the details. Finally, Think Secret can say they were right about something. I stand corrected, I never thought it would happen.

Funny how AI continues to use the 'iPhone' name for their rumored Apple product, even though the name is clearly unavailable.

[bignumbers]

iPod is a nice generic name. They could call it the iPod Phone, but I suspect they'll come up with something snazzier. Using the iPod name they'd build on the iPod name, rather than trying to build another. Especially if the first gen phone will be just a phone backed onto a Nano. Maybe the iPod Communicator? I like it.

Wasn't there was also talk of the thing being called the iChat Mobile? I don't particularly like it, but at least some folks know what an iChat is.

Of course the folks at Apple are enjoying every minute of this. They've known Cisco owned the trademark and unless they thought they could buy the name, they've long had other plans.

Or to start an unfounded rumor, maybe Apple is in cahoots with Cisco to make the long-range wireless version of the iPhone? Or maybe Apple will just buy Cisco? (Ok, never mind the fact that Cisco has twice the market cap of Apple...)

[eAi]

They wouldn't call it iPod Phone, they might call it iPod Talk or something though...

[SpamSandwich]

Engadget was right!

Really screws Steve-o on the marketing plan, tho.

[AquaMac]

IPod phone does not sound too bad.

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by eAi

They wouldn't call it iPod Phone, they might call it iPod Talk or something though...

iPod AV
iPod Connect
iPod Cell
iPod-o-rama
iPod Network
iPod Me
cellPod

[hohlecow]

iChat mobile

FTW!!!!!111one

[Kolchak]

It's about time Apple got over the iFad anyway. It was fresh when the original iMac came out eight years ago, but now it's dated, iPod notwithstanding. iPhone was a little too limiting anyway. Apple's gadget should be so much more than just a phone. And it didn't show much imagination. It belongs to something as generic as this thing.

And that is one ugly iPhone. Probably with a horrible user interface, if I know Cisco. I mean, come on. I don't know who Cisco is trying to fool, but they have never been and will never be a consumer electronics company.

[Phizz]

Originally Posted by eAi

They wouldn't call it iPod Phone, they might call it iPod Talk or something though...

PhonePod.

[Booga]

MacPhone Pro

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by hohlecow

iChat mobile

FTW!!!!!111one

I'd bet this is probably it... unless there is no phone...

[Buck]

It'll just be "iPod with phone capabilities".

[addabox]

Cell Phone iPod = CephaloPod!

The new Apple CephaloPod: Be the Squid™

[SoopaDrive]

Originally Posted by Buck

It'll just be "iPod with phone capabilities".

No because then everyone's going to ask where they can get "an iPod with phone capabilities". That's too complicated.

I motion for MacPhone, mPhone, podPhone, PhonePod, PoddyPhone or PhoneyPod.

[digitalclips]

And a long shot on a Treky name: "Pass me my iCommunicator Scotty ..." 8)

or maybe iTalk or iCall ... but my personal favorite, iCom

[machei]

I like iCell. Serves two purposes. A name and a function. Lord knows, they'll sell quite a few.

[SpamSandwich]

I'll put $5.00 on iChat Mobile, FTW. Yeeeeehaw!

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by wilco

The Zune is brown!!!1 Like poo!!!11!

For the win!!!! *pours gasoline over self*

[DeaPeaJay]

I like iPod Communicator. And I agree, I don't think that it will have "phone" in the title at all.

Didn't they trademark iChat Mobile?

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by DeaPeaJay

I like iPod Communicator. And I agree, I don't think that it will have "phone" in the title at all.

Didn't they trademark iChat Mobile?

iPod Communicator... meh. Too long. iChat Mobile, iPod Mobile. Rasing my bet to $10.

[MacTel]

Originally Posted by SpamSandwich

iPod AV
iPod Connect
iPod Cell
iPod-o-rama
iPod Network
iPod Me
cellPod

I'd prefer iChat Buddy. A video mobile phone using an iChat client.

[mjolnir8]

They can't use iCom, it's been a product name for years in radio communications.

http://www.icomamerica.com/

[Benton]

MacPhone leverages the recent branding of MacBook, MacBook Pro and Mac Pro. While the macphone.com website is owned by a Macolyte, owner of MacBytes, I do not know the trade mark status.

[Ireland]

Originally Posted by Buck

It'll just be "iPod with phone capabilities".

Therefore they will call it, 'iPod Phone'. (iPod Nano, iPod Mini etc.)

[caliminius]

Wilco, I just have to ask: Are you 12 years old or just utterly immature? (Also, my apologies to any 12 year-olds who might be reading this but I think you get my point).

Your brown zune/poo schtick was funny for about half a second the first time. Now it's just tiresome. Move on already!

[zzcoop]

Originally Posted by SpamSandwich

iChat Mobile, iPod Mobile.

My money's on iChat Mobile. And the latter, though it sounds nice, is awfully redundant. Phone functionality isn't going to make an iPod any more mobile than it already is, y'know?

[Ireland]

Originally Posted by zzcoop

My money's on iChat Mobile. And the latter, though it sounds nice, is awfully redundant. Phone functionality isn't going to make an iPod any more mobile than it already is, y'know?

You think Apple would be stupid enough not to want to leverage the product off their existing ubiquitous iPod brand name, don't be foolish.

Rather than type the in detail why Apple will chose the name "iPod Phone" for their "iPhone" all over again, I point you to my comment over on digg.

[Benton]

iPhone's minimum requirements are windows 2000 and xp. No mention of Macintosh!