Apple gets two new iPhone-related patents

Apple gets two new iPhone-related patents

(PhysOrg.com) -- Apple is spending time with the patent office again, and this time it is for a double header. Apple has been rewarded not one, but two different patents, and they are both related to the iPhone.

The first patent, number 7,929,959, is a cardless way of activate a that is attached to a specific carrier. You may not think that getting rid of the would be that big of a deal, but in reality this idea would allow end users to be able to easily switch carriers. Users will be able to activate that are currently tied down to one carrier on a different carriers network. That would mean that an user on At&T would be able to switch over to Verizon without having to buy a new phone, with the associated hefty hardware bill. It may even, at some point in the future, give users the option to switch to other networks.

The second patent, number 7,928,965, will add a radio-frequency identifier key to the touchscreen display. The radio-frequency identifier key that could, in the future, be used as a method of data transfer. It could also be used to open radio-frequency doors, or any other number of applications. Though, this may create a potential security issue, if this technology is used for data sharing, and security will have to go with the radio-frequency identifier key.

All of this technology is currently at the patent stage. No information has been released on when, if ever, this technology can be expected to be implemented in future generations of iPhones.

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Citation: Apple gets two new iPhone-related patents (2011, April 20) retrieved 19 March 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2011-04-apple-iphone-related-patents.html
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