Technology Insight

By Slash Lane Published: 10:00 AM EST A small Florida-based firm is suing iPhone maker Apple Inc, alleging that handset’s new touch-screen keyboard interface infringes on patent claims dating back over 7 years. Related AppleInsider articles: * Apple to license interface technology as part… * Apple’s interface held to the fire in dubious… * Quantum says no current plans for… * Touch sensor firm issues legal warning to… * Apple and Cisco return to the bargaining table After writing Apple in late February and receiving no response, SP Technologies, LLC on Thursday turned to a patent litigation-friendly federal court in Tyler, Texas, where it filed a formal complaint against electronics maker. Specifically, the 4-page suit charges that Apple’s iPhone keyboard interface treads on four claims outline in an August 4th, 2000 U.S. patent titled "Method and medium for readable keyboard display incapable of user termination." Via

Virtual Iron Software (www.virtualiron.com), a provider of software for server virtualization and virtual infrastructure management, today announced that more than 750 organizations are using its enterprise-class solutions. The company’s momentum in the first half of 2007, which includes significant growth in its distribution channels, partner ecosystem and product footprint is a direct result of growing demand from organizations looking for a cost-effective alternative to VMware.

While VMware has been on its own in the virtualization space for more than nine years, it’s begun to share some of the spotlight with Virtual Iron. Turning the economics of virtualization upside down, Virtual Iron is delivering comparable capabilities and performance to VMware at just one-fifth the cost. As a result, Virtual Iron has quickly become "the VMware alternative" for a growing number of companies such as CaixaTerrassa, Charlotte Observer, City of Evanston, City of Gainesville, Hitachi, Lane Community College, Manz Automation, Meganet Communications, Office of the Attorney General of South Carolina, Owen-Bird Law, Parker-Hannifin, PGA TOUR Superstores, Priceline.com, Stanley Betting International, ServePath, Toshiba, Truck-Lite, Vita-Mix, Weiss and XCalibre Communications.

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HELSINKI, Aug 6 (Reuters) - Mobile-phone giant Nokia will start to use Microsoft’s copy protection software to boost the use of wireless entertainment, like music and videos, the two companies said on Monday.

Microsoft’s technology allows users of Nokia cellphones to share protected pieces of content—like music, games or videos

– between phones, PCs and other devices.—between phones, PCs and other devices.

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