Here Comes iPhone... But Not From Apple

The wait for iPhone is over. It’s finally here. Only, it’s not from Apple Computer.

For months, Wall Street and Silicon Valley pundits have speculated about Apple’s plans to introduce a combination cell phone/digital music player. Many Apple watchers expected the company to launch the so-called iPhone at MacWorld in January. Apple may still have plans for such a device, but it won’t be called iPhone.

That’s because Cisco Systems’ Linksys division today launched iPhone, a family of VoIP solutions for small businesses and home users.

What a move. Linksys pushes further into the VoIP sector and scores a great brand at the same time. Parent Cisco Systems has spent a lot of time thinking about branding lately. Apparently, Cisco’s peers at Linksys were brainstorming, too.