iPhone to run $300-400 after contract?

Everything we've been told with regard to the iPhone's pricing structure has suggested that the 4GB would hit at $499 and the 8GB at $599, and that this would be an on-contract price -- expensive, yes, but likely still in the right range to keep sales brisk. New advertising allegedly leaked out of a consumer survey suggests that the 2-year contract price could come in a full two hundie lower, though: $299 for 4GB, $399 for 8GB. This would sorta jibe with a Cingular exec's comment regarding the availability of units to folks outside coverage areas at a contract-free price, but perhaps more importantly, it's fabulous news for folks who will be able to take advantage of a contract re-upping. Of course, this is all coming out of a survey -- perhaps gauging reaction to pricing -- so we need to wait for some more clarification from the powers that be before declaring our wallets a little less burdened come June.

Via Engadet

Apple/Cisco iPhone Trademark Spat Still Unresolved

Apparently fifteen days was not enough time to eke out a deal on iPhone trademark rights. Late Thursday night, Cisco agreed to give Apple yet another extension to respond to the lawsuit it filed against the Cupertino company on January 10.
According to the revised agreement between the two companies, Apple now has until February 21 to either work out a deal with Cisco or challenge the trademark lawsuit in court.
While an Apple representative was not immediately available for comment, Cisco spokesman John Noh said that the negotiations between the two companies are still ongoing and that "Cisco and Apple are still working on an agreement toward trademark usage and interoperability."
Cisco has claimed it has owned the iPhone trademark since 2000, when it acquired a company called Infogear. Although Cisco has not widely used the iPhone brand, the company began publicly using it about the time that Apple declared its intention to makret a phone under the iPhone name. The two companies began negotiation, which were due to expire on Feb. 15.
The legality of the second delay is still open to question. Presumably, because Cisco has agreed to the deal, Apple is not breaking any district court rules.

Via PCMag