Apple, Cisco to share iPhone name

APPLE chief executive Steve Jobs can start selling the iPhone in the US in June as planned after agreeing to share the name with Cisco Systems and averting a court case.

The companies ended a six-week dispute by agreeing to share the iPhone brand and explore ways their products can work together, according to a joint statement late yesterday. Cisco sued Apple last month for violating a trademark owned since 2000.

The settlement paves the way for Cupertino, California-based Apple to start marketing the combination music player, mobile phone and messaging device, introduced to fanfare last month in San Francisco. Jobs expects to sell 10 million iPhones next year for as much as $599 (€456) apiece, taking on Research In Motion Ltd’s BlackBerry and Palm’s Treo.