Apple, Cisco Share iPhone Trademark

Apple and Cisco Systems ended their feud over the iPhone name on Wednesday as they agreed to share rights to the name and end their legal battle over it. USA Today,

"Cisco - the longtime owner of the name - had earlier said it would share it with Apple as long as the electronics-maker made its iPhone compatible with other companies' products. The settlement addressed that concern, with the two companies pledging to "explore opportunities for interoperability in the areas of security, and consumer and (business) communications." Other terms were confidential."

Since the full deal was not made public, it's hard to say for sure which company got the better end of the deal. As many have said, it looks like a "face-saving" agreement for Cisco and a "money-saving agreement" for Apple.

Apple, Cisco settlement extended

Yesterday was supposed to be the deadline for Apple to respond to Cisco's iPhone trademark lawsuit.

Again, Cisco has granted another extension for Apple. This time, Cisco has given Apple five more days to February 21, at which point the two companies will hopefully have reached a “mutually beneficial agreement.”

Besides reaching an agreement on sharing the trademark, Cisco also expressed interest in reaching a deal on how the products could interoperate. But this is VERY unlikely going to happan. Apple uses a closed system with all of its portable devices, which are tightly integrated with its iTunes software and online store.

Stay tune.