Sheesh, MacWorld hasn't even cooled off and ArsTechnica is already pushing rumors about the next big thing from Apple. Specifically, they are getting everyone all hot and bothered for the iCell. This heavy breathing is based on a trademark filing submitted by Apple on January 5.
"According to the filings, Mobile Me relates to a number of goods and services, including 'telecommunication services for the dissemination of information by mobile telephone, namely the transmission of data to mobile telephones' along with 'music players,' 'digital video players,' 'MP3 players,' and 'software related thereto.'"
The original ArsTechnica piece is fairly straightforward. There are four trademark filings in all, and together they cover just about every conceivable Apple product that has ever been wet-dreamed by a HyperCard addict. But the Ars crew extract only their favorite keywords, and neglect to mention the more mundane things like "satelllite networks" and "television" that are also covered by these filings. So, based on the way Ars interprets things, one might also safely assume that Apple has a satellite television network planned. Yep, you heard it here first—Apple is getting into the sat television business, just go and look at those trademark filings to see for yourself.
Granted, I do believe Apple is coming with its cellphone sooner or later. But these trademark filings don't offer much in the way of proof.
Apple trademark filing points to cellular offering [Ars Technica]