Apple Computer, maker of the uber-popular iPod digital music player, has filed a patent application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in relation to a device that could prove to be the hyped-up “iPhone”–a combination of the iPod and a mobile phone–industry analysts and pundits have been speculating on for months, Bloomberg.com reports. Said patent–made publicly available on Thursday–was filed with the USPTO back in August, and it relates to a separate patent filed in the summer of 2004, according to Bloomberg. Analysts and writers have suggested that Apple may offer up the iPhone as early as January, and that Apple CEO Steve Jobs could unveil the device at the Cupertino, Calif.-based firm’s MacWorld conference that month. It has also been reported that Apple already ordered some 12 million iPhones from Chinese electronics manufacturer Hon Hai Precision Industry. An Apple spokesperson did not comment on Bloomberg’s request for additional information regarding the patent filing. The device Apple is attempting to patent will be “tube-like” in form and built of zirconia and alumina so it will be “cost-effective, smaller, lighter, stronger and aesthetically more pleasing” than existing music phone designs, Bloomberg reports. Zirconia casing on the outside of the device could also be colored to make it more visually appealing, according to Bloomberg. Apple’s newest iPod nanos are available in a variety of colors, and they’re also encased in metal. Related content BrandPost Retail innovation playbook: Fast, economical transformation on Microsoft Cloud For retailers, tight integration of data and systems is the antidote to a challenging economy. By Tata Consultancy Services Mar 24, 2023 3 mins Retail Industry Digital Transformation BrandPost How retailers are empowering business transformation with TCS and Microsoft Cloud AI-powered omnichannel integration and a strong, secure digital core lets retailers innovate across four primary areas while staying compliant, maintaining security and preventing fraud. By Tata Consultancy Services Mar 24, 2023 4 mins Retail Industry Cloud Computing BrandPost How to Build ROI from Cloud Migration This whitepaper and webcast can help you calculate the ROI and create a business case for modernizing your legacy applications to the Microsoft Cloud. By Tata Consultancy Services Mar 24, 2023 1 min Retail Industry Cloud Computing BrandPost How to power a sustainable enterprise on Microsoft Cloud In this eBook, we’ll follow the journey of Amal Skye, a fictitious woman who is committed to living in a way that preserves the planet for the future —and how businesses like Tata Consultancy Services and Microsoft are making that possi By Tata Consultancy Services Mar 24, 2023 1 min Retail Industry Green IT Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe