Cisco (Not Apple) Launches 'iPhone' [Update]

It appears that last minute rumors of an "iPhone" announcement today (Monday, December 18th) were true, but referred to a new product from Cisco and not Apple.

Today, Cisco announced a series of Web-enabled telephone handsets designed to work with Voice over IP (VOIP) services.

Dennis Vogel, a product manager for Cisco, says the use of the iPhone name is part of a larger strategic vision concerning networked homes. Cisco CEO John Chambers will expand on that strategy in remarks at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January.

It's been known that Cisco held the unused U.S. trademark for "iPhone" in the U.S. after acquiring Infogear in 2000. Apple's association with the name has been the consequence of the Apple "iPhone.org" domain that has been registered since 1999 as well as a series of foreign iPhone trademark registrations by Apple over the past few years.

Over the past few months, there have been a flurry of rumors that Apple will be releasing a mobile phone version of their iPod to be released in the 1st half of 2007.
Update: The use of the "iPhone" name in no way affects the existing rumors of an Apple branded phone. "iPhone" was simply the unofficial name adopted by the media referencing the unreleased Apple phone. This name, however, was reinforced by Apple trademark applications for "iPhone" in numerous countries. As previously noted, Apple does not have the U.S. trademark for "iPhone".