If you’ve never heard of the USB Forum, don’t feel bad. Palm has filed a complaint with the forum that alleges Apple is restraining trade. It is an odd place for Palm to launch this kind of attack.
The USB Forum began in 1985 as a way to build support for similar connections. Apple is a member of the Forum. Palm aims to point out that Apple is misusing the standard of interoperability created by iTunes not allowing connection via USB to other devices, such as the Palm Pre.
It is an interesting move with no real precedent. Apple altered iTunes to prevent the Pre from syncing with Apple’s product. In response, Palm updated the Pre’s software to allow the Pre to pretend to be made by Apple (at least, that is what iTunes sees) and access was again granted. Palm is looking to end this cat and mouse chase.
Palm is clearly saying iTunes syncing is important. Palm strategy has been to convert iPhone owners and these owners carry their music organized by iTunes. Connecting with that software is important to Palm and doing so in an easy-as-possible manner is critical.
The Forum, whose excitement is usually centered on releasing new USB standards, like 3.0 (woo hoo!), refuses to comment on the filing. Some see the filing itself as a breach in the Forum’s intent while everyone else might like a shot at being connected to iTunes. From the New York Times, Mike Abramsky, an analyst with the investment firm RBC Capital Markets.
“There isn’t much precedent for this case,” he said. “It’s breaking new ground. In my mind, ultimately the users are the arbiters in the outcome of these situations.”
This fight is just beginning. Just wait until Apple lays down some patents! This fight is going to go the distance.
Read: [New York Times] Image courtesy of [iphoneblog.com]
wow.very interesting.
Great article on an extremely controversial issue. Palm makes an interesting case, but it is somewhat weak. The Blackberry Media Sync allows crackberry users to take their non-DRM music with them, using a custom interface to the open, standards-compliant iTunes Library XML file. Apple has gladly allowed this for years. What Palm is doing is reverse engineering, which may be illegal at worst, but is definitely in bad taste. It will be interesting to see if facts or raw emotions rule this debate (the whole Apple-is-the-new-monopoly argument).
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