Cisco (Not Apple) Launches 'iPhone'

[Felldownthewell]

Engadget has it that Cisco just released a VoIP phone named the iPhone, which means that Apple's product will not be named the iPhone.

Engadget's Story

[GoCubsGo]

Good because iphone is kind of lame. Regardless, Cisco's release looks very nice.

[shadowsintherai]

It's looking like Apple's iPhone is now the eWorld...??

As of midnight tonight, and not before (I searched through midnight to be sure), a google search for "iphone" is now taking you to eWorld.com which comes up as the apple.com homepage with "eworld.com" as the url. No redirect.

Is it the Apple eWorld, then? Hmmmm....

-S

[ahuman7341]

In that case could it be the apple mammals, because apple does have mammals.org redirecting to the apple site.

[shadowsintherai]

I'm not hinting at anything, I'm just saying that it would have to be a REALLY huge coincidence or a deliberate apple fakeout (or hedge, if they don't yet have a name) to make their FIRST priority (specifically at midnight last night) to redirect the google search term "iPhone" to eWorld.com (which is actually apple.com).

It doesn't just redirect you to apple.com, the url is actually eworld.com.

That HAS to be deliberate...for whatever it's worth.

-S

[EricNau]

Originally Posted by shadowsintherai

I'm not hinting at anything, I'm just saying that it would have to be a REALLY huge coincidence or a deliberate apple fakeout (or hedge, if they don't yet have a name) to make their FIRST priority (specifically at midnight last night) to redirect the google search term "iPhone" to eWorld.com (which is actually apple.com).

It doesn't just redirect you to apple.com, the url is actually eworld.com.

That HAS to be deliberate...for whatever it's worth.

-S

Perhaps Google (not Apple) made those changes.

[mfacey]

Kind of a bummer for Cisco though. Anybody searching for iPhone in Google will find mostly Apple's so-called iPhone. Kind of a poorly chosen name by Cisco!

[shadowsintherai]

I HIGHLY doubt that. It takes money and planning to get a search keyword up that high on the list. Take into account that Cisco is releasing the iPhone TODAY and EWORLD.COM (apple.com) has the redirect for the word "iphone" ABOVE Cisco starting EXACTLY at midnight of the same day...

That is NOT coincidence.

Apple may very well announce it has a mobile phone product today, you never know...and it MIGHT be called eWorld...?? Who knows...

-S

[Nermal]

It wouldn't be the first time that Apple's recycled a name.

[Analog Kid]

This does, of course, raise the question of how many other "iPhone" rumors (manufacturing in China, for example) were confused by the name.

[mfacey]

Originally Posted by Analog Kid

This does, of course, raise the question of how many other "iPhone" rumors (manufacturing in China, for example) were confused by the name.

And Gizmodo was also right with their prediction that the iPhone would be released today

[Poff]

you beat me to it.. kind of sad, imo. I liked the thought of Apple iPhone name..

[Whiteapple]

That amused me quite a lot.

Folks over at Cisco must have been laughing their ***** off while spotting mac users browsing MacRumors hitting F5 to see what was happening on monday.

This rumor is a pile of siht

kkthxbye

[mfacey]

Originally Posted by Whiteapple

That amused me quite a lot.

Folks over at Cisco must have been laughing their ***** off while spotting mac users browsing MacRumors hitting F5 to see what was happening on monday.

This rumor is a pile of siht

kkthxbye

I don't think they're laughing. Cisco has a bit of a problem on their hands because everybody is associating the iPhone name with Apple and not them. It'll take a while for that to wear off and for the correct association to be created. Sounds like a truly painful process for Cisco!

[MacBoobsPro]

It had to be white too didnt it?

[CrackedButter]

The iPhone did launch today (Monday) as predicted by Gizmondo.

http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/12...unches_iphone/

It just isn't an Apple iPhone, still the good thing is that Apple will have a better name for it when theirs eventually comes out.

[iñaki'sonMac'87]

Nice move by linksys, but I expect something more radicaly better by apple... there are too much expectatives...
is straneg that apple didn't protect the iphone brand, maybe they are going to lunch something like podphone, phonepod, phod macphone? appletel, hypertelegram pod i-morse iv-tel (from internet video).... guess I can keep babling, and still apple is going to be able to surprise me... for good

[ziwi]

Well, at least we know what not to expect for a name...

[MacRumors]

It appears that last minute rumors of an "iPhone" announcement today (Monday, December 18th) were true, but referred to a new product from Cisco and not Apple.

Cisco announced a series of Web-enabled telephone handsets designed to work with Voice over IP (VOIP) services.

Dennis Vogel, a product manager for Cisco, says the use of the iPhone name is part of a larger strategic vision concerning networked homes. Cisco CEO John Chambers will expand on that strategy in remarks at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January.

It's been known that Cisco held the unused U.S. trademark for "iPhone" in the U.S. after acquiring Infogear in 2000. Apple's association with the name has been the consequence of the "iPhone.org" domain that has been registered since 1999 as well as a series of foreign iPhone trademark registrations by Apple over the past few years.

Over the past few months, there have been a flurry of rumors that Apple will be releasing a mobile phone version of their iPod to be released in the 1st half of 2007.

[shunpike]

oh well, it might come later - personally I'm going to buy an 8gb nano and gat the iPhone later (if it ever appears)

[Digitaljim]

I always thought iPhone sounded terrible.

[Erasmus]

Grab your torch, pitchforks and automatic weaponry, we're going to pay Cisco a visit!

Damn! All the plane seats are booked. Reckon I can swim?

Pity. I think iPhone is a cool name. Looks like I'll be getting myself an awesome new model touchscreen iPod after Macworld then.

[BenRoethig]

Still, considering the name and design of that product, how much you want to bet Apple legal is going to give Linksys/Cisco a little call? This will become the IoPhone within a week.

[emotion]

iPod Phone it is. They'd be stupid not to market a phone as an ipod that just happens to be a phone. You can justify ipod level prices (with slight premium for phone) then. This is assuming apple don't have any network subsidization.

Anyway, I think some people predicted this gizmodo 'iphone', guaranteed to be released today, was by someone else.

[BRLawyer]

Well, if Cisco really has iPhone as a registered trademark in the US, I don't think there is much Apple Legal can do, apart from trying to enforce its rights in other countries, or perhaps seeking an agreement to license them to Cisco. Besides, a domain name registration means little without prior registration and use of the mark in the real world.

Honestly, I couldn't "yawn" more...the iPhone is, by definition, a boring thing that has been rumoured for 1000 years, be it from Apple or anyone else. Whatever launch Cisco does will NOT have any impact on the ordinary phone market for a looooong time...

I much prefer a 12" MBP than a million variations of iPhone; besides, my RAZR is working well with my 12-mo contract, thanks very much.

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