Cisco -- not apple -- announces iPhone branded VoIP phones

We hate to break it to everybody who thought the inevitable Apple phone was going to be called the iPhone, but Cisco, which has apparently had the trademark on the name since the 90s, is launching a line of Linksys "iPhone" VoIP devices (yes, that's right, lower case "i", uppercase "P"). Why wait until now to launch the iPhone name? We can't say for sure, but we imagine Cisco was probably trying to work behind the scenes to sell the rights to the name to Apple, but things didn't pan out -- but since "iPhone" is already a fairly ubiquitous brand without even being launched, hey, why not run with it? We won't dwell long on the loss of the name iPhone to describe the Applephone (which is what we'll henceforth be calling it), so on to the gear. Expect to see the $180 iPhone Dual-Mode Internet Telephony Kit for Skype CIT400 (pictured), which from what we can tell, is merely a Skype handset; also, announced is the $200 iPhone Wireless-G Phone for Skype WIP320 (pictured after the break), a SIP VoIP phone. So, that's it; Cisco cashes in on the iPhone name, current VoIP products get rebadged to the new label, and we all rest easy knowing that our cellphone investments are still safe for at least another three weeks or so.

[carlos the c @ Dec 18th 2006 7:16PM]

iMemine , apple could sue apple for the name.

[Jayson @ Dec 18th 2006 10:48PM]

So, where are all the ahole idiots who swore they knew someone who told them there would be an Apple iPhone? Come on folks, step forward for the thrashing you all deserve. I am so happy to see that anyone else came out with the iPhone just to prove you were all blowing big clouds of smoke out your ass. Maybe Apple could come out with the vPhone (vaporPhone) to make all you losers happy. The Apple iPhone stood for idiotPhone clearly.

What will be the new rumored named you Apple fanboys are positive will be the phones name when it comes out tomorrow? iSpeak, iWalk&Talk, iMaBell, iPhoneyPieceOfJunk, iCrap, iHorn, iTelephone. Which will it be? I vote for the iCantFartLoudEnoughToConveyHowLittleICare.

[Jason @ Dec 18th 2006 10:56PM]

Liqwid:

You are SO right, iFone is just so fun. It is so original and amazingly different. It has loads of "fun factor" in that name. WOW, I am just loving that name. How about iFown, that seems even more fun. Yes, I agree that there is nothing better than a total bastardization of the English language for the sake of sneaking one by the Trademark folks.

[Francisco Lopez @ Dec 19th 2006 1:17AM]

Did apple ever came out and commented on this whole iPhone rumor mill?
i mean i been hearing of this so called iPhone for like 2 years now. What kind of functionality would a phone based on a mp3 player have? Have any of you had the decency to use common sense or used your train of thought to see what an iPhone really have to offer thats not in the market right now? Last i checked my palm treo 680 synced with mac os x beautifully so i know is not syncing issues with phones.

Is like the whole focus is based around the name and not its functionality. I feel like people will be so disappointed at the fact that the phone will not be named iphone and will completely disregard the fact that it might just be able to play music and make calls with nothing in between. TOTALLY USELESS PEACE OF VAPORWARE HYPED AND FAMED 2 AN EXCESSIVE LEVEL OF NO RETURN.

[crazydelishous @ Dec 19th 2006 8:50PM]

i think ipodphone sounds o.k. or icellphone

[Mathew S. Thomas @ Dec 20th 2006 11:57PM]

i like iTel or iPhon --

as far as this device -- i think they made a huge mistake sticking on the blue linksys logo --

-
MatThomas

[goodtime @ Dec 22nd 2006 6:20PM]

iTalk therefore iAm.

gt

[goodtime @ Dec 22nd 2006 7:19PM]

Funny, iPhone.org goes to Apple.com

[CA @ Dec 27th 2006 6:12AM]

I bought a Infogear / Cisco iPhone in 1998. it was a small device which connected to the net via dial up and provided simple web and email access with b&w touchscreen. It also had the ability to connect to specific printers. the second model, the 2050, had color screen, two phone line support, came in black and a adjustable tilt screen.

Wiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iphone

White iPhone
http://www.cnn.com/TECH/computing/9811/02/netphone.idg/

[thill @ Jan 13th 2007 8:02PM]

Man don't a lot of you guys look dumb now especialy Mr Fransisco Lopez, IPhone will be called IPhone screw shmisco, and as far as IPhone being nothing new, WOW!!! Show me anything on the market now that is anywhere close to it's capabilities, let alone something that coul even come close to being able to run OS X wohhhhyhaaa anyone outthere that has a phone with a full desk top version of internet capabilities with a actual browser forget the best browser yah the best SAFARI, I could easily go on but OH,.... OH,.... do I know theres no need for that , God knows every 1 of you guys watched the keynote and were left speechless, and about an earlier comment made about apples "horrible" warrenty, well A.) That's not even close to being true. B.) If someone is looking into a companys warrenty policy it tells us they are probably used to feeling a need to have a good warrenty, and that is because they have surely needed to use it, Now what does this info reveal to us, it reveals you have a PC. Let me calm your nerves buy a Mac throw the warrenty info in the trash, you won't need it. To me bragging about your companys great warrenty is stupid, it's kinda like saying buy are crappy product and have no worries, we have a great warrenty policy for when our product craps out on you. Apple has a great warrenty but you don't here much about it because it's rarely used. Anyway I say all this because you guys are always on here and places like this ( none of this aplys to u guys in support of Mac and IPhone just the always present haters ) talking crap and then when as always your proven foolish, no one comes back on to say "wow was I wrong", no you just disapear and go trolling for another Mac issue, apple product or computer disscussion to pop in on,( in between useing your great PC warrentys that is. ) Haa sorry couldn't resist. I just want you guys to think next time, I mean come on you guys are what 0/1,000,000 by now or close to it right? Finaly, IPhone,..... it's gonna be IPhone I mean shmisco pissco, you think apple's the one whos gonna cave here? We all no better.

[Bill Day @ Jan 19th 2007 2:31AM]

Cisco is now running Linksys iPhone ads on the Google ad network:
http://billday.com/2007/01/19/cisco-running-iphone-ads-on-google-ad-network/

Is Cisco trying to makes its case before it receives an Apple counter-suit?

[Lawrence @ Jan 29th 2008 5:57PM]

A resource of VOIP is at http://www.1-satellite-tv-facts.com/VoIP.html