Here are your Apple rumors and news items for Tuesday:
Let’s Settle This: Nokia (NYSE:NOK) and Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) have been slinging lawsuits at one another since 2009. The first shot fired came from the Finnish mobile phone giant, which claimed that Apple infringed on wireless standard technology in the iPhone. Apple then sued Nokia, alleging patent infringements of its own. In May, the International Trade Commission said it would conduct an investigation of all claims. According to a Tuesday report from Apple Insider, Nokia has finally won the battle. Both companies have rescinded their complaints with the ITC, and Apple has agreed to become a Nokia licensee, paying the company a one-time license fee for its wireless technology as well as ongoing royalties.
Unlocked: Apple began selling “unlocked” iPhones through its online store on Tuesday for $649. These are the same iPhone models that are compatible with AT&T‘s (NYSE:T) wireless network but can be used with any mobile network that operates under the same technology. Although Apple hasn’t begun officially supporting outside networks, this means that T-Mobile clients can use the iPhone on their network. The move is unusual considering that Apple is notorious for tight control over how its portable devices are used after the point of sale.
Skip the iPod: Apple’s annual Back to School promotion released on Tuesday offers prospective students significant discounts on Mac desktop and laptop computers. As a 9 to 5 Mac report notes, however, this year’s promotion is markedly different from previous offers. In the past, students purchasing a new Mac under the Back to School promotion have been given a free iPod along with their purchase. Apple has opted to give out gift certificates to the iTunes store rather than the media player this year. Some analysts have been predicting that Apple will begin to officially phase out the iPod product line this year. Considering that the Back to School giveaway was usually a way for the company to clear out stock before introducing a new iPod model, this new promotion certainly lends support to that theory.
As of this writing, Anthony John Agnello did not own a position in any of the stocks named here. Follow him on Twitter at @ajohnagnello and become a fan of InvestorPlace on Facebook.
