'iPhone' Yes; "Apple" No!

Techtree News Staff, Dec 19, 2006 1326 hrs IST

For some time now, the rumor mills have run themselves wild over Apple Computer's prospective launch of an "iPhone"...

For some time now, the rumor mills have run themselves wild over Apple Computer's prospective launch of an "iPhone".

However, to everyone's surprise, yesterday, Linksys unveiled a series of handheld devices designed to make Internet calls. The handhelds will inherit the 'iPhone' trademark, which is owned by parent company, Cisco Systems, since 2000.

The Linksys iPhones include: iPhone Cordless Internet Telephony Kit CIT200; iPhone Dual-Mode Internet Telephony Kit CIT300; iPhone Dual-Mode Cordless Phone for Yahoo! Messenger with Voice CIT310; iPhone Dual-Mode Internet Telephony Kit for Skype CIT400; iPhone Wireless-G IP Phone WIP300; iPhone Wireless-G IP Phone with Web Browser WIP330; and iPhone Wireless-G Phone for Skype WIP320.

According to Linksys, these iPhones will enable consumers do more than just dial a phone number and wait for someone to answer at the other end.

The iPhones integrate popular communication clients such as Skype and Yahoo! Messenger with Voice, allowing users to actually see when their near and dear ones are online and ready to receive calls. Besides, callers can toggle between traditional landline services and free VoIP calling options available from Skype or Yahoo! All iPhones support popular Skype calling services, including SkypeOut, SkypeIn, and Skype Voicemail.

With the iPhone Dual-Mode Internet Telephony Kit CIT300, consumers can access information in a convenient and timely manner, without having to rummage through a phone book or a computer to find say - a phone number.

The iPhone Dual-Mode Internet Telephony Kit for Skype CIT400 embeds the communications client into a cordless phone base station, which is directly attached to the home network via Ethernet, thus making it easy to place calls to other Skype users, mobile phones, or landlines without having to turn-on the computer.

The iPhone Wireless-G IP Phone with Web Browser WIP330 integrates popular standards-based SIP VoIP protocol, and can be used to access music and photos, and for streaming video from the Internet.

The iPhone Wireless-G Phone for Skype WIP320 integrates Skype into a Wireless-G handset, making it portable, and allowing consumers to place calls from anywhere they can connect to a wireless access point.

Speaking at the launch, Mike Pocock, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Linksys, said, "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. 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."

"The development of the iPhone family demonstrates our flexibility in selecting the right partnerships, feature sets, and product designs to exceed the demands of even our most connected customers to whom the Internet is no longer a destination, but an inextricable part of their lives," Pocock said.

The iPhone Cordless Internet Telephony Kit CIT200 is available globally through e-commerce retailers, retail stores, and VAR partners for an estimated street price of $79.99 (Rs 3,599.55).

The iPhone Dual-Mode Internet Telephony Kit CIT300 is also available globally through e-commerce retailers, and VAR partners for an estimated street price of $99.99 (Rs 4,499.55).

The iPhone Wireless-G IP Phone WIP300 is immediately available in North America, Europe, and Asia through distribution, and authorized VAR partners for an estimated street price of $219.99 (Rs 9,899.55).

The iPhone Wireless-G IP Phone WIP330 is again, immediately available in North America, Europe, and Asia through distribution, and authorized VAR partners for an estimated street price of $369.99 (Rs 12,150).

The iPhone Dual-Mode Cordless Phone for Yahoo! Messenger with Voice CIT310; and the iPhone Wireless-G Phone for Skype WIP320 are available in the US through e-commerce retailers, online retailers, and VAR partners for estimated street prices of $99.99 (Rs 4,499.55) and $199.99 (8,999.55) respectively.

The iPhone Wireless-G Phone for Skype WIP320 will be available in Europe, Asia, and Latin America in Q1 2007.

The iPhone Dual-Mode Internet Telephony Kit for Skype CIT400 is immediately available in the US through e-commerce retailers, and VAR
partners for an estimated street price of $179.99 (Rs 8,099.55). This phone will also be globally available in Q1 2007.

USER COMMENTS

Hi... i have some doubt .. presently im using a Voip service in Saudi Arbia. i would like to know weather i can activate this service on these wirelees ip phone my service provider is EZ Comm

by yahkoob, Jeddah, on Nov 28, 2007 08:44 PM, Report abuse Reply

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by macprofs, Mumbai, on Nov 18, 2007 08:55 PM, Report abuse Reply

Cost of LINKSYS CIT300 Skyepe Iphone

by Dilip, Mysore, on Nov 07, 2007 03:47 PM, Report abuse Reply

Hi I require iphone like keyboard option with min cost/features. Data storage option should have. Saravan 0091 9866557690

by Saravana Kumar, Hyderabad, India, on Sep 03, 2007 11:37 AM, Report abuse Reply

.....is this a joke? those phones are NOTHING compared to the real thing!

by blah, blah, on Jan 11, 2007 04:01 AM, Report abuse Reply

They'd better take the i off that phone because it's hideous. Who designed that thing? OkWap phones look better than that. It looks like an ugly Nokia. Looks aside, some nifty features. I'd rather have skype integrated into my regular cell though, so I can keep everything else.

by Jessi, Shanghai, on Dec 21, 2006 10:38 AM, Report abuse Reply

Well fark... another phone that actually doesnt CRASH?

by WICKED, OKC, on Dec 20, 2006 01:38 PM, Report abuse Reply

check this out..

by Anonymous, Singapore, on Dec 20, 2006 08:40 AM, Report abuse Reply

Jeezus! Can't apple have a none 'i' product?

by John Dough, Johanesburg, on Dec 20, 2006 06:05 AM, Report abuse Reply

why don't apple just call it 'iTalk'? job done.

by Richard Andrews, high wycombe, UK, on Dec 19, 2006 08:42 PM, Report abuse Reply

Because that is trademark is owned by Griffin, who makes products for the apple ipod.

by Kathleen, Allentown, on Dec 20, 2006 04:15 AM, Report abuse

If there were any interested people with a clue, perhaps an investigative reporter who was interested in iPhones any time since 1996 they could have found out with little effort that Cisco/Linksys owned that trademark. Why is this such a big deal now?

by Ed Crelin, Wallingford, on Dec 19, 2006 06:08 PM, Report abuse Reply

Because the way it is presented, it looks like apple had been beating to something

by Bob, New York, on Dec 20, 2006 03:14 AM, Report abuse

Damn it! False alarm!!

by Raj Thevar, Mumbai, on Dec 20, 2006 12:57 AM, Report abuse Reply

www.iphone.org ... say no more... http://www.whois.net/whois_new.cgi?d=iphone.org&tld=org

by Dan, UK, on Dec 20, 2006 12:25 AM, Report abuse Reply

This story reaffirms my belief that most news reporters nowadays have no clue whatsoever. Patent has been owned by Cisco for a long time and the bigger picture is that someday if there are enough wifi hotspots these phones will give cell phone companies a run for the money.

by Big Red, New York, on Dec 19, 2006 11:51 PM, Report abuse Reply

in order to understand why these people don't stop talking about apple when talking about the iphone, just type iphone on google.co.uk and you'll see how man reporters were wrong talking about the "apple iphone". Typing iphone even links to the website of apple in on of the first link!

by David, England, on Dec 19, 2006 11:14 PM, Report abuse Reply

Scooter and ALK I think you are missing the point. If pervasive municipal wifi becomes a reality these phones could mean an end to the cell phone industry, why pay for a service when you can get i for free. Frankly an iPod phone exists and it blows. Treo took 3 generations before it became a working palm phone and I expect at least 2 more tries from apple before it is worth even looking at.

by Rhys, Portland, on Dec 19, 2006 10:22 PM, Report abuse Reply

it looks rather dull. Not to say very boring. Indeed, 'no apple'

by scooter, amsterdam, on Dec 19, 2006 09:04 PM, Report abuse Reply

these products gave nothing to do with apple as they are NOT cellphones and do not have any barring on what apple is doing... the fact that linksys made an "iPhone" doesn't mean that apple's cellphone will not be successful more so apple has mentioned before about the fact that product will NOT be i-something...

by ALK, Chicago, on Dec 19, 2006 08:45 PM, Report abuse Reply