Apple launched the first capacitive touch screen iPhone model in 2007 and blew the world away. The smartphone was highly praised for its well-designed screen and user-friendly interface which made competitors rush to manufacture displays using similar technologies.
Apple has recently been granted the patent for the multi-touch technology used in all its products, although the company has been using it for many years. This patent will be very useful in the near future when Apple decides to demand money from competitors that use the technology for their own terminals.
It appears that the American tech giant has found a new revenue source.
”A computer-implemented method, for use in conjunction with a portable multifunction device with a touch screen display, comprises displaying a portion of page content, including a frame displaying a portion of frame content and also including other content of the page, on the touch screen display”, the patent reads.
Samsung, HTC, Nokia, RIM and Motorola are just some of the tech giants that are using the multi-touch technology for the manufacturing of their own terminals and Apple will probably file a trial against them in order to force them to license its technology. This patent represents a weapon Apple will definitely use in the court of law, but it is up to US courts to decide whether Apple is rightfully using the patent or not.
Multi-touch technology has revolutionized the manner in which consumers use mobile handsets. The technology has become so popular that it is impossible to image a smartphone without a multi-touch display.
