Cisco and Apple said that they have settled the iPhone trademark infringement. lawsuit that has surrounded the much-hyped Apple iPhone mobile phone-iPod hybrid gadget. Apple and Cisco stated that Apple will be allowed to use the name for its mobile phone device in exchange for exploring wide-ranging ''interoperability'' between the companies' products in the areas of security, consumer and business communications.No other details of the agreement were released, and representatives from both companies declined to comment. The companies stated that they would dismiss any pending legal actions regarding the trademark. Aw, c'mon. That's it? No comment? No juicy details on one of the biggest tech-story of the year? How anti-climatic can this be?
In addition, according to Electronics Weekly, Duncan Bryan, licensing director at Quantum Research stated that the description of the iPhone suggests it uses a rear-surface touch screen, and has proximity sensing which can tell if it is held to the ear. This is a Quantum Research capability which they have patented. Duncan also stated that if Apple has used the charge transfer technology to give the iPhone that capability, then Apple could be infringing on the firm's patent. Now that Cisco has leveraged their trademark to get who-knows-what from Apple... -- they're being tight-lipped and giving us this horsesh-t about "''interoperability'' -- no doubt Quantum will be invigorated to pursue a lawsuit against Apple.
