One of the charms and strengths of the iPhone is that you can understand how to use it without reading the manual. However, even if you think you know it, there must be something you don't understand correctly. In this corner, we will explain in an easy-to-understand manner "why the iPhone can't be asked now". This time, we will answer the question, "Is it true that the pronunciation of iPhone is not Aiphone?"
It's true. If you listen carefully to TV commercials, you'll notice that the iPhone is pronounced "iPhone", not "Aiphone". At least in Japanese, it is always "iphone", not pronounced or written as "aiphone". Even in paper media such as magazines, you will not see any other notation other than "iPhone".
The reason is that Apple does not have the "Aiphone" trademark in Japan. Aiphone Co., Ltd. (English name: Aiphone Co., Ltd.), which has the top share in the Japanese intercom market, used the trademark "Aiphone" for telephones/telegraphs in 1955 when the company name was Aiko High Voice Phone Joint Stock Company. Registered.
It was in 2008 that Apple applied for the trademark of "iPhone" in Japan. Since the trademark right extends to the names of similar products/services, not only "iPhone" but also similar "iPhone" is not recognized for telephones/telegraphs, so it was registered under the name of stationery and digital image processing. . On the other hand, by 2008, Aiphone had registered related functions/services such as mobile phones, Internet connection functions, and videophone functions under the name "Aiphone." As it was, Apple could not release the iPhone as "iPhone" in Japan.
The measure taken by Apple is negotiation with Aiphone. In 2008, Apple began negotiations prior to the launch of the iPhone, and agreed that Aiphone would allow Apple to use the "iPhone" trademark domestically, while the two companies' trademarks would coexist overseas. Announced in March.
The details of the agreement have not been disclosed, but since "Aiphone" is both a product name and a company name, it is presumed that it was excluded from the scope of allowing Apple to use its trademark. Therefore, when pronouncing/noting iPhone in Japanese, it is correct to say “iPhone” instead of “Aiphone”.
For trademark reasons, iPhone is pronounced/written as "iPhone" |