Project PDA

On Monday Cisco introduced a family of devices that utilize Voice over IP (VoIP) technology, which are being marketed with the name “iPhone”. Cisco claims to have owned the trademark to the iPhone name for over a decade and that it has plans to use the name in its longer term strategy for created networked homes.

The problem, of course, is that the name “iPhone” has been touted by the media to be the name of the rumored iPod Cell phone project that Apple might be working on. In fact, Apple owns the domain name iphone.org, and has even filed for trademarks on the name overseas.

The new family of phones to be introduced by Cisco will integrate communication platforms, such as Skype and Yahoo!, with voice, so that users will be able to tell when their friends and relatives are online and ready to receive calls.

The company said “callers can toggle between the free VoIP calling options available from Skype or Yahoo! And traditional landline service with the click of a button.”

Here are the seven models that were introduced yesterday:

1. iPhone Cordless Internet Telephony Kit ($79.99)
2. iPhone Dual-Mode Internet Telephony Kit ($99.99)
3. iPhone Dual-Mode Cordless Phone for Yahoo! Messenger, with Voice ($99.99)
4. iPhone Dual-Mode Internet Telephony Kit for Skype ($179.99)
5. iPhone Wireless-G IP Phone ($219.99)
6. iPhone Wireless-G Phone for Skype ($199.99)
7. iPhone Wireless-G IP Phone ($369.99)

The Wireless-G iPhones come with a web browser that allows users to access music, photos, and streaming video from the Internet. Further, the Dual-Mode model with Yahoo! Messenger allows access to local business and weather information, programmable by zip code.