As reported here on Cell Phones Etc. and across the Web, here’s your daily brief on what happened in the world of mobile phones this Monday, June 13th, 2011.
Apple Starts Selling Unlocked iPhone 4 For $649
Not that it’ll do you much good in the US — an unlocked iPhone 4 will still only work on AT&T’s 3G bands — but Apple has just started selling its prized smartphone without any carrier partiality on its US online store. The big attraction is, of course, being able to take the phone abroad and switch MicroSIMs to your heart’s content, an experience that most other nations are already well accustomed to. Additionally, though the $649 (16GB) and $749 (32GB) levies may seem rather steep for American buyers, they’re quite a bit more affordable than the unlocked pricing elsewhere.
Engadget
Nokia And Apple Settle Patent Row
Nokia and Apple have settled a long-running patent dispute, with the US company agreeing to make a one-off payment and continuing royalties to the struggling Finnish phone maker. But the end of the row could now mean that phones using Google’s Android software will come under fire from Nokia over the same set of patents it has just licensed, suggests one observer.
Guardian
“Recycle My Cell” Program Comes To Alberta
The Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association and its “Recycle My Cell” program has come to Alberta. If you want to recycle your old clunker of a cell phone there are now 574 drop off location spots in 78 communities across Alberta. Currently 15% of Alberta residents recycle their old cell, but this number is expected to increase to 37% by 2015.
MobileSyrup
iCloud Communications Sues Apple Over ‘iCloud’ Trademark
A firm named iCloud Communications has filed a lawsuit against Apple over its “iCloud” trademark. Apple announced the new cloud storage and sync service dubbed iCloud during its WWDC keynote last week, and iCloud Communications now wants the Cupertino-based tech giant to get rid of “all labels, signs, prints, insignia, letterhead, brochures, business cards, invoices and any other written or recorded material or advertisements” referring to the service. iCloud Communications said that Apple consistently uses trademarks owned by others, and references other legal battles over trademarks for the iPhone, iAd, Mighty Mouse, iPad, and even the name Apple itself.
BGR
iOS 5s Fancy New Camera Trick? Microsoft Has A Patent On It
Pretty much immediately after the new camera tricks were demonstrated, people began noting similarities between iOS 5s new focal features and some of those found in Windows Phone 7. As it turns out, Apple may have to cough up some cash (or possibly already is) for at least one of those cool new capabilities; Microsoft has held a patent on the mimicked feature since February of 2010.
MobileCrunch
