Apple Trademarks 'iWrite' -- New Application?

As noted briefly on ThinkSecret, Apple appears to have trademarked a new name... "iWrite" with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

"iWrite" was filed for trademark on September 12, 2003 and is categorized under "Computer hardware; computer software".

Interestingly, the trademark is registered under "Appple Computer, Inc." (with an extra 'p') so will not come up on a routine search for "Apple Computer". The Attorney of Record, however, is consistent with an attorney that has filed previous trademarks for Apple. "iWrite" is also a pending trademark under the Australian trademark office and European Union (and listed properly under "Apple Computer").

There have been many long-standing rumors of a new Apple-branded word processor and office suite. Earlier rumors have labeled the word processing component as "Document".

Perhaps the most intriguing past information, however was Apple's recruitment of three developers from Gobe Software. Gobe developed an innovative office suite for Windows, Linux and BeOS, and -- after a brief disappearance -- seems to have returned.

Add to this recent reliable rumors of a new Apple application due as early as January. Any connection, however, is simply speculative. "iWrite" may not be a word processor at all.

Readers should also remember that Apple has trademarked a number of terms in the past, not all resulting in shipping products.