Palm Up the Creek Because of Apple?

Mashable broke the new this week that Apple's patent for their multi-touch technology was granted by the US patent office. "Oh $#**" has to be on Palm's mind right now. Certainly there are others involved in the multi-touch implementation side of things such as Microsoft and their Surface interface but no one can deny that Palm has the most to lose at the moment.

As I've said during this week's GamerWok Hour, I didn't quite believe Tim Cook was talking about Palm directly when he mentioned protecting Apple's IP.  But after the details of this patent, I may have been wrong.  The patent details the use of multiple fingers to issue commands.  Obviously they can't patent the use of your finger as a stylus (a la HTC phones and Blackberry Storm) but with Palm's impressive demonstration of their take on multi-touch, it's hard not to see that being an infringement.

On the other side of things, you've got the Google G1 Android that could also become a target of Apple's wrath.  Since that device has still yet to become mainstream, it has the benefit of flying beneath the splash Palm has made with the Pre.

We still don't exactly what Apple and Tim Cook has planned and whether or not this could spell the end of Palm even before they release their savior phone.  But Tim Cook had this to say when asked about the Palm Pre directly: "Well, I don’t want to talk about any specific company. I’m just making a general statement that we think competition is good. It makes us all better. And we are ready to suit up and go against anyone. However, we will not stand for having our IP ripped off, and we’ll use whatever weapons that we have at our disposal. I don’t know that I could be more clear than that."

I think that pretty much means they are ready to go to the mattresses.

Comments

[29 jan 2009 palm pre roundup &]

[...] Palm Up the Creek Because of Apple?A Championship Bout Ahead? ( GamerWok ) [...]