The battle over Cisco vs. Apple over the iPhone name is finally over (for now). The deadline for the law suit ended today with an official statement that both parties have reached an agreement. Within the terms of agreement, both companies will have the right to use the name.

Here is the Press Release from Cisco’s website:

Cisco® and Apple today announced that they have resolved their dispute involving the “iPhone” trademark. Under the agreement, both companies are free to use the “iPhone” trademark on their products throughout the world. Both companies acknowledge the trademark ownership rights that have been granted, and each side will dismiss any pending actions regarding the trademark. In addition, Cisco and Apple will explore opportunities for interoperability in the areas of security, and consumer and enterprise communications. Other terms of the agreement are confidential.

It seems like a vague statement without any financial settlement being discussed. It is a good assumption to think that Cisco has negotiated an agreement to get royalties of some sort from all proceeds of the Apple’s iPhone sales. However, it is hard to determine without further confirmation. Not sure what “Cisco and Apple will explore opportunities for interoperability” means… does that mean that we’ll see some sort of Cisco Apple collaboration or will the Apple iPhone have Cisco’s VoIP technology in the future?

D-Link has introduced the “pay-as-you-go” V-Click dual mode phone allowing easy switching between cellular and Wi-Fi networks.

The phone will begin shipping within the next few months and will feature tri-band GSM (900/1800/1900 mhz) and 802.11 network access. SIM Smartcard usage automatically gains GSM access. With a touch of the V-Click button, the user can activate or deactivate the Wi-Fi connection allowing access to the internet or an internet phone service.

Boasting a sleek form factor of approximately 4.17″ x1.73″ x 0.75″, the V-Click phone will come in different colors styles, support Opera MobileTM (a Wi-Fi hotspot browser) and a 2 inch (176×200 px) bright color screen.

For security of transmissions, the V-Click phone offers WEP , WPA and WPA2 standards based encryption. Users can purchase call time from service providers and load it up using the SIM card. Costing around $600, a hefty price for a “pay-as-you-go” phone, it would initially be available through D-Link’s website.

News Release [D-link]

Anyone who was talking about Apple’s entry into the phone market was dubbing the device an iPhone. Ever since the first rumor started some hundred years ago, that’s what we’ve been calling it.

Turns out Apple had the same idea. Trouble is they fell into some trouble when they found out Cisco Systems had absorbed the rights to the name in 2000 after acquiring Infogear and their Skype-ready internet phone, the iPhone.

Since Apple released their first iPod 5 years ago, they have been trying to get permission to use the iPhone name but are yet to reach an agreement.

Linksys, who is owned by Cisco, released another iPhone less than a month ago - a cordless version of the first product - but Apple wasn’t deterred.

Apparently things started cooking a few weeks before Steve Jobs unveiled Apple’s iPhone to the world last week, when Cisco made it’s offer.

“We sent them final terms on Monday, but we never got approval back,” Cisco spokesman John Noh said. “We’re very open to sharing the trademark. We made that clear. But then they went ahead and used the name without our permission.”

“Today’s iPhone is not tomorrow’s iPhone,” Mark Chandler, Cisco’s general counsel, said about their new iPhone and the lawsuit. “The potential for convergence of the home phone, cellphone, work phone and PC is limitless, which is why it is so important for us to protect our brand.”

As far as branding goes, Apple are going to fight hard to keep calling it an iPhone. Will we stop calling Apple’s device, which hits the streets in June, an iPhone? How much will it cost Apple to own the name, and not share it with Cisco as I’m sure they don’t want to do?

What would your suggestion be for a new name?

Read [New York Post]