01/26/2008, 12:40pm, EST
Saturday, January 26thRogers to offer unlimited data, prep for iPhone?
Canadian cell provider Rogers Wireless is set to institute a series of changes to its cellular data plans that should pave the way for devices such as the iPhone, according to increasingly corroborated reports. A tip indicates that the carrier will begin offering a reworking of the company's $20 monthly Communicate Package that allows both unlimited Internet access from a given phone as well as up to 2500 SMS text messages, 1000 MMS picture or video messages, and calling extras such as voicemail and caller ID. A separate $7 plan will offer just the Internet use and 50 minutes of video calling with Rogers' VISION service, while a $5 plan will offer just the data alone.
The Rogers service is believed to mirror similar offerings from AT&T in the US, though offering far more messages than most AT&T plans. Like the American plan, the unlimited transfers would only apply to 'feature' phones rather than dedicated smartphones; BlackBerries and Windows Mobile devices would be exempt from the service and have their own separate rates. Rogers will track each phone's International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) to automatically determine whether a device is allowed to use an unlimited plan, though whether this will apply to unlocked handsets is unknown. Tethering those devices that qualify for the unlimited plan to a computer for modem use is expected to incur an extra cost.
The move is believed to partly be a direct reaction to Bell's $7 data plan, which offers unlimited Internet use for the HTC Touch, as well as to lowered data rates as a whole for competitors. However, the plan is also regarded by observers as a necessary prelude to the introduction of the iPhone to the country. Rogers is the only major provider in the country to operate a GSM phone network needed for the Apple device but has often maintained some of the highest fees for data use in North America, until recently charging as much as $295 per month for less features than AT&T's basic $60 iPhone plan. Rogers has claimed to be bringing the iPhone to Canada since shortly after its unveiling in January 2007, though negotiations are not believed to have begun until after the phone's US launch in late June.
Current reports would have the Rogers data rate change take effect on February 5th but are not believed to be timed with any future Apple or other handset introductions.
Filed under: iPhone, industry
Other story tags: AT&T, htc, Rogers, Telus, Bell
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Under subtitle “Patents and copyrights”:
“LG Electronics claimed the iPhone's design was copied from the LG Prada”.
“On September 3, 1993, Infogear filed for the U.S. trademark ‘I PHONE’ and on March 20, 1996 applied for the trademark ‘IPhone’”. In this case even the copied idea: “Infogear's trademarks cover ‘communications terminals comprising computer hardware and software providing integrated telephone, data communications and personal computer functions’ 1993 filing”, “Infogear released a telephone with an integrated web browser under the name iPhone in 1998”.
“In June 2000, Cisco Systems acquired Infogear, including the iPhone trademark. On December 18, 2006 they released a range of re-branded Voice over IP (VoIP) sets under the name iPhone”.
“As of October 2006 only the Singapore and Australian applications had been granted” for copying innovation and names Apple.
Comwave: “The Canadian application was opposed in August 2005 by a Canadian company called Comwave who themselves applied for the trademark three months later. Comwave have been selling VoIP devices called iPhone since 2004”.
Compromise Mr. Jobs: “On February 2, 2007, Apple and Cisco announced that they had agreed to temporarily suspend litigation while they hold settlement talks,[99] and subsequently announced on February 20, 2007 that they had reached an agreement. Both companies will be allowed to use the "iPhone" name[100] in exchange for ‘exploring interoperability’ between their security, consumer, and business communications products”.
“The iPhone's touch interface has been compared by some media to the HTC Touch,which also features a touchscreen designed for fingers, although it can also be used with a stylus and lacks multi-touch. Another product that has been compared to the iPhone is the MyOrigo MyDevice, which was released in 2003, and like the iPhone, featured a touchscreen and accelerometer”.
How about Multi-Touch: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-touch
Not really ‘Original Tech’ from Apple either is it?
Bye now. don't let the door smack yo ass!
watch that ass spank'n door.
Don't worry about the doors!