Cisco introduces "iPhone" family of devices
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.
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.
Comments
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.
Seriously though. Apple will give it a iPod based brand name...iPod phone
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!
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.
Now you can imagine all the people at Apple and Cisco were laughing their a**es off today at everyone's surprise.
iCom (communation) mite work too.
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.
Funny how AI continues to use the 'iPhone' name for their rumored Apple product, even though the name is clearly unavailable.
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...)
Really screws Steve-o on the marketing plan, tho.
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
FTW!!!!!111one
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.
They wouldn't call it iPod Phone, they might call it iPod Talk or something though...
PhonePod.