Linksys unveils new 'iPhone' line

[ali ahmad]

SAN FRANCISCO - The iPhone has arrived, but it's not made by Apple Computer Inc., which was widely rumored to be working a cell phone-iPod combination of the same name.

Linksys, a division of Cisco Systems Inc. that makes networking equipment for the home and small businesses, unveiled the new line of Internet-enabled phones this week.

The phones use the increasingly popular Voice over Internet Protocol, better known as VoIP, and also allow users to switch over for traditional landline calling.

They also can search the Web and allow users to see when friends are online and ready to accept calls. Several other companies have similar offerings.

But the name has caused a stir. Cisco has owned the trademark on the name "iPhone" since 2000, when it acquired the company that originally registered the name, InfoGear Technology Corp.

Industry watchers have speculated that Apple was close to releasing some kind of iPod and cellular telephone combination, possibly for unveiling at Macworld in January. Until the Linksys announcement, the name "iPhone" was a logical guess.

Much of the speculation about Apple's activity centers on an application the Cupertino-based company filed with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office for a "portable computing device capable of wireless communications." The company has not discussed its plans, and declined Tuesday to comment on "rumors and speculation."

Analyst Tim Bajarin of Creative Strategies said a convenient naming option for Apple may have been eliminated, but the Linksys announcement will likely have little impact on Apple's plans.

Apple is believed to be working on a cell phone with music-playing ability, a markedly different technology than a VoIP phone, and still may have a surprise in store for the naming of any such device, he said.

"In our industry, naming the thing is almost as hard as creating the technology," he said. "It's pretty clear it's not going to be called 'iPhone.' But Apple's still pretty clever. They still could be very creative."

 

[Cheetah786]

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – December 18, 2006 – Linksys®, a Division of Cisco Systems, Inc., and the recognised leading global manufacturer of voice, wireless, and networking hardware for home, Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) and small business user, today unveiled its iPhone® family of Voice over IP (VoIP) solutions. The iPhone family of handheld devices harnesses the power of the Internet to enhance voice communications, integrate compelling information services, and deliver access to multimedia. In short, Linksys iPhones voice solutions and products give consumers the ability to do more with their phone than talk.

“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.” said Mike Pocock, Linksys senior vice president and general manager. “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.”

Since the summer of 2004, Linksys has shipped more than 3 million VoIP products worldwide, including seven phones in its iPhone product line - all immediately available in the United States:


iPhone Cordless Internet Telephony Kit - CIT200
iPhone Dual-Mode Internet Telephony Kit - CIT300
iPhone Dual-Mode Cordless Phone for Yahoo! Messenger with Voice - CIT310
New! - iPhone Dual-Mode Internet Telephony Kit for Skype - CIT400
iPhone Wireless-G IP Phone - WIP300
iPhone Wireless-G IP Phone with Web Browser - WIP330
New! - iPhone Wireless-G Phone for Skype - WIP320

Enhanced Communication
Voice applications are at the core of the iPhone family. However, with iPhone handheld devices, consumers can do more than just dial a phone number and wait to see if someone answers on the other end. Products in the iPhone product line integrate popular communication clients, like Skype and Yahoo! Messenger with Voice, to help enable real-time presence features that can allow consumers to see when their friends and family are online and ready to receive a call. With products in the iPhone family, callers can toggle between the free VoIP calling options available from Skype or Yahoo! and traditional landline service with the click of a button.

Information Services
As the first product to couple Yahoo! Messenger with Voice and access to Internet services like Yahoo! Local Search and weather forecasts, the Dual-Mode Cordless Phone for Yahoo! Messenger with Voice (CIT310) has given consumers access to information in a convenient and timely manner. They no longer have to pick up a printed phone book, or go to their computer to find a phone number. By programming the phone with a local zip code, people can search for local business information directly from their phone and then effortlessly place a call to the business with one click. In addition, a weather search setting permits quick access local weather forecast.

“Providing consumers the ability to use Yahoo! services to search for local businesses, check weather and have full access to their Yahoo! Messenger Contact List on the Linksys dual-mode iPhone was an important step as the convergence between Web services and handsets continues to advance,” said Jeff Bonforte, senior director of Real Time Communications, Yahoo!, Inc.

Multimedia Content
The iPhone product family also includes products like the Wireless-G IP Phone (WIP330) that integrate the popular standards-based SIP VoIP protocol. Consumers can use the WIP330 to access music, photos, and streaming video from sources on the Internet so they can combine the product with wireless video cameras like the Linksys Wireless-G Compact Video Camera (WVC54GC), to create a real-time home monitoring solution.

Freedom from the PC
Launching today, the latest iPhones products help free consumers from the requirement of an always-on PC to make calls over the Internet. The iPhone Dual-Mode Internet Telephony Kit for Skype (CIT400) embeds the popular communications client into a cordless phone base station that is attached directly to the home network via Ethernet, making it easy to place calls to other Skype users, mobile phones, or landlines without turning on a computer. The iPhone Wireless-G Phone for Skype (WIP320) makes Skype portable by integrating it into a Wireless-G handset, allowing consumers to place calls from anywhere they can connect to a wireless access point.

Both new iPhones products allow free or inexpensive voice calls in addition to real-time contact list access and presence information that lets the user know if the intended call recipient is available. The new phones also support popular Skype calling services, such as SkypeOut, SkypeIn, and Skype Voicemail.

"Each generation of phone offerings from Linksys has offered Skype users increased flexibility in how they make calls," said Gareth O'Loughlin, director of hardware product management for Skype. "We’re thrilled to work with Linksys and give users even more options to use Skype off the PC - whether at home, at work or on the move.”

iPhone Family Pricing and Global Availability:

iPhone Cordless Internet Telephony Kit - CIT200 – Available globally through e-commerce retailers, retail stores, and VAR partners. Estimated Street Price: US$79.99
iPhone Dual-Mode Internet Telephony Kit - CIT300 – Available globally through e-commerce retailers, and VAR partners. Estimated Street Price: US$99.99
iPhone Dual-Mode Cordless Phone for Yahoo! Messenger with Voice - CIT310 – Available in the U.S. through e-commerce retailers, and VAR partners. Estimated Street Price: US$99.99
New!! iPhone Dual-Mode Internet Telephony Kit for Skype - CIT400 – Available immediately in the U.S. through e-commerce retailers, and VAR partners. Global availability through e-commerce retailers, and VAR partners is expected for Q1 2007. Estimated Street Price: US$179.99
iPhone Wireless-G IP Phone - WIP300 – Immediately available in North America, Europe and Asia through distribution and authorized VAR partners. Estimated Street Price: US$219.99
New!! iPhone Wireless-G Phone for Skype - WIP320 – Immediately available in North America through distribution, online retailers and VAR partners. Europe, Asia and LATAM availability is planned for Q1 2007. Estimated Street Price: US$199.99.
iPhone Wireless-G IP Phone - WIP330 – Immediately available in North America, Europe and Asia through distribution and authorized VAR partners. Estimated Street Price: US$369.99

About Linksys
Founded in 1988, Linksys, a Division of Cisco Systems Inc., (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the recognised global leader in voice, wireless and Ethernet networking for consumer, SOHO and small business users. Linksys is dedicated to making networking easy and affordable for its customers, offering innovative, award-winning products that seamlessly integrate with a variety of devices and applications. Linksys provides award-winning product support to its customers. For more information, visit www.linksys.com/au.

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iPhone and Linksys are registered trademarks or trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and certain other countries. Other brands and products are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. Copyright © 2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.




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[EagleEyes]

Nice. Technology changes, sooner or later phones will be outdated and international calling will be like a calling in the neighborhood. Skype has already made a quite difference.

 

[Awesome]

Million dollar question. Are wireless hot spots abundant enough to actually make this phone useful?

Communicating through WAP or GPRS can be slow and expensive. I think governments should make it a point to provide free internet nationwide linking the entire nation on a wireless network.

routers are now carrying ranges of almost a kilometer. With enough access points on the streets, we can seriously do something. Of course the politics would never let this happen. The internet companies stand to loose big time unless they are given contracts to lay down and sell the wireless service.

 

[Cheetah786]

Million dollar question. Are wireless hot spots abundant enough to actually make this phone useful?

Communicating through WAP or GPRS can be slow and expensive. I think governments should make it a point to provide free internet nationwide linking the entire nation on a wireless network.

routers are now carrying ranges of almost a kilometer. With enough access points on the streets, we can seriously do something. Of course the politics would never let this happen. The internet companies stand to loose big time unless they are given contracts to lay down and sell the wireless service.

Actually this is starting to happen in northamerica already philidelphia downtown and toronto ontario downtown wifi.:banana2: