InterDigital Inc (IDCC)

[nieves]

Apple's deal with InterDigital all but guarantees 3G iPhone
By Justin Berka | Published: September 11, 2007 - 09:53AM CT

Although we still don't know for sure if it exists or when it might be coming, the probability of a 3G iPhone has been pegged as quite high for some time now. Apple has been silent as usual, but once in a while, a detail or two slips out that provides insight into the future. Usually the tidbits are in patent applications, but news of a licensing agreement between Apple and a company called InterDigital also offers us some information, particularly about the number and direction of future iPhones.

InterDigital markets a wide variety of mobile phone technologies, most of which are reportedly covered by the licensing agreement. Specifically mentioned are "technologies encompassing bandwidth allocation, roaming, and power efficiency controls," analyst Michael Ciarmoli told Reuters, all of which should be useful to Apple. InterDigital is also a fairly big name when it comes to 3G technologies, which provides further evidence of the iPhone's eventual migration in that direction. And hey, if the battery life is a bit better in the future, maybe this licensing agreement will mean a few less lawsuits for Apple.

In many ways, the length of the licensing agreement is more notable than the technologies it covers. The deal is apparently for seven years, and has InterDigital receiving $2 million per quarter for the length of the agreement. The new technology means that iPhone improvements are certain to be coming soon, and the seven-year deal means that we might see quite a few revisions of the iPhone in the future. Actually, at that point the product will probably have moved on to a whole different moniker, but at least we'll have 3G...