Apple iPhone
Cisco and Apple have agreed to joint use of the iPhone trademark

Apple and Cisco settle iPhone spat

Rivals call it a draw

Ian Williams

Cisco and Apple have come to an agreement about the iPhone trademark under which both companies will use the name.

The pair are free to use the iPhone trademark throughout the world, and will dismiss any pending legal actions.

Advertisement

Precise terms of the deal are being kept secret by both companies, but it has emerged that Cisco and Apple will explore opportunities for interoperability in the areas of security and consumer/enterprise communications.

Precisely what this means is anybody's guess and has analysts scratching their heads as to what may come out of such exploration.

Zeus Kerravala, a network infrastructure analyst at Yankee Group, believes there are ample opportunities for the companies to dream up collaborative projects to win over consumers.

However, he warned that both firms need to be willing to share in order to make the partnership work. Given that Apple is notoriously guarded about its products, the industry is sceptical about the possibility of collaboration.

The iPhone spat kicked off last month when Cisco sued Apple the day after chief executive Steve Jobs announced the new iPhone at the Macworld expo.  

Discussions over the trademark had been taking place between the companies before Jobs's announcement, but apparently broke down just hours before the official launch.

Cisco's Linksys division introduced a series of seven VoIP devices in December 2006 under the 'iPhone' brand.

  • Have your say
  • Send to a friend
  • Print
  • Digg
  • Reddit
  • Share

Tags:

Do you agree?

Further reading

Apple iPhone

Jobs announces the mighty iPhone

Apple 'reinvents the phone', declares chief exec

Apple iPhone

Apple iPhone court battle delayed

Apple and Cisco agree to continue negotiations for use of trademark

Cisco sues Apple over iPhone brand

Trademark suit seeks to block Apple from using 'iPhone' name

Related whitepapers

Related jobs

Most watched

Xperia X1

Video Review: Sony Ericsson Xperia X1

First Looks Editor Ian Williams gets hands on with the Sony Ericsson Xperia X1

iPhone

Video Review: iPhone 3GS

We put Apple's latest iPhone through its paces

IT white papers

Search white papers

Top categories

Poll

Poll: Summer smartphones

Poll: Summer smartphones

Which smartphone will you be taking to the beach this summer?

View poll results

Advertisement

Advertisement

Newsletter signup

Sign up for our range of FREE newsletters:

Existing User

Newsletter user login:

Enter email address to edit your newsletter preferences

Job of the week

Search thousands of IT jobs :

Search thousands of IT jobs:

Advanced search

Hiring now on ComputingCareers:

Related IT jobs

Search thousands of IT jobs :

Search thousands of IT jobs:

Advanced search

Spotlight

a padlock

Microsoft to plug security holes

Microsoft has given advance warning of a number of security...

Nokia handset

Top 10 articles, 10 July 09

No Nokia Android phone, ActiveX attacks and Google enters into...

Can Google beat Microsoft at its own game?

Google's announcement this week that it plans to step into...

iPhone

Video Review: iPhone 3GS

We put Apple's latest iPhone through its paces

Primary Navigation