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iPhone Patent Application Surfaces: IM, Blogging App, Video Conferencing, More

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Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
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The US Patent and Trademark Office has recently published an extensive patent application, seemingly for the 3G iPhone and software version 2.0, both now expected to be released next Monday.

The device supports a variety of applications, such as one or more of the following: a telephone application, a video conferencing application, an e-mail application, an instant messaging application, a blogging application, a photo management application, a digital camera application, a digital video camera application, a web browsing application, a digital music player application, and/or a digital video player application.
Click to expand...

Also detailed in the application is support for inline media, including Flash and Windows Media.

Among the 25 inventors listed is Apple CEO Steve Jobs.

Raw Data: Patent Application 20080122796


Article Link
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2008/06/04/3g-iphone-patent-application-surfaces-im-blogging-app-video-conferencing-mor/
Yes! This is what I've been waiting for! Video Conferencing!!!!!

I still think it would be funny if this new phone came out, with all that stuff, and no 3G. Absolute forum chaos!


I wasn't going to be able to get it (money doesn't grow on trees), but I put my phone on eBay with a Buy it Now of 450 dollars, and it sold in the first day! Used!!!

All I can say is that If ATT subsidizes, I am going to be one happy fanboy...
 
They do that kind of all-inclusive filing to cover any possible future plans that may/may not ever happen so they can protect their work. Means very little until a product actually ships.
 
If half of this comes to fruition in the 3G iPhone then wow. Just wow. :)
 
I really hope they have an iphone model without the video conferencing, unless its a free addition to the unlimited data of the iphone plans. I dont want to pay extra for a feature im never going to use. All I can say to the video recording is YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!
 
If you look at the image in the patent the notable Applications I see are...

GPS Module(136)
Video Conference Module(139)
Instant Messaging Module(141)
Blogging Module(143)
Search Module(151)

HOLY CRAP!!!!!


Oh and

"an optical sensor is located on the front of the device so that the user's image may be obtained for videoconferencing while the user views the other video conference participants on the touch screen display"
and thats a quote from the patent
 
Like others, I see this type of filing as the 'throw in the kitchen sink' because you never know what you might build down the road.

At the same time, the breadth/depth of these filings also forces you/me to wonder what the end-goal is in carving out patent real estate in so many of the application spaces relevant to the iPhone Universe.

Is it a land grab and attempt to create (patent) toll roads throughout iPhone Universe or just protection against a would-be competitor outflanking Apple and establishing barriers against them and their developer ecosystem?

I posted on this topic recently:

Upward Mobility, Land Grabs and the iPhone Universe
http://thenetworkgarden.com/weblog/2008/05/upward-mobility.html

Check it out if interested.

Mark
 
These features will very likely make it to the iPhone 2. The Nano model will probably not include GPS, or video conferencing, keeping it slimmer and less expensive than the full featured ones. Only 4 days to go..................... :D
 
It seems the video conferencing is the ONLY thing the original version of the iPhone won't be able to do... the rest can come in a software update. I suppose it might be able to perform video conferencing, but it would be very awkward to hold the phone backwards without being able to see yourself (not to mention the trouble the EDGE would have with video)...
 
Auzburner said:
It seems the video conferencing is the ONLY thing the original version of the iPhone won't be able to do... the rest can come in a software update. I suppose it might be able to perform video conferencing, but it would be very awkward to hold the phone backwards without being able to see yourself (not to mention the trouble the EDGE would have with video)...
Click to expand...

This makes for a good incentive to upgrade.

wakerider017 said:
That document is riddled with info about GPS...

Why is that not mentioned on the main page?
Click to expand...

Probably since it was so heavily specified within the 3G posts.
 
What do you think the chances are that this is all released in the new Iphone on Monday. I am being optimistic and thinking 80% chance. What do all of you think?


__________
MBP 2.4
MB
:apple:TV
8g Iphone

soon 16g 2nd generation iphone?????:apple:
 
Looks like, for the people constantly expressing their desires for mms, their dreams could quite possibly be coming true. The application has a whole paragraph on mms!
 
I don't think all of this is going to show up on Monday. (would be cool if it did though) I know companies always file patents for stuff but we never see half of it.

Also, how much will the battery suffer if you've got 3G + wifi + video conferencing + GPS + whatever else? Didn't Jobs say battery life was a big priority (hence the exclusion of 3G for awhile)?
 
Fanboys Iphone Wishlist.

Darn!

Thats one awesome list of features. I hope apple puts em all on the new baby coming out on Monday!

Video recording should have been there already....Never mind.

But the other features look great...

Wish there we two more... GPS and Mobile TV :D .... Am just an Human being :apple:.... Gimme more...
 
I guess ill state the obvious...

These could be software patents for the app store, and not a new phone. Thus making the features available to ALL iphones.
 
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