The World Ready for iPad, Apple Braces For Lawsuits

When the iPad was announced a while ago, we went on a limb to predict that there would be a host of lawsuits against Apple in 2o10. If the iPhone has caused so many issues for Apple, it’s not too hard to predict the iPad bringing even more complaints against Apple. The iPad is still not “officially” out, but that hasn’t kept Elan Microelectronics, based in Taiwan, from filing a lawsuit against Apple with the U.S. International Trade Commission over multitouch technology used in iPhone and iPad. The company is not only trying to stop Apple from violating its patent, it’s also trying to stop Apple products from being sold in the U.S. Considering that the plaintiff has had success with these types of lawsuits in the past, Apple may have to pay up (depending on the judgment against it). The case is a bit more complicated than others as Elan is claiming ownership of a technology that Apple has a few patents on. What’s clear is that you will get your iPad despite this and other upcoming lawsuits against Apple.

Apple has started 2010 with a big bang. Not only it is going to release two flavors of iPad in April, iPhone HD is going to make its debut in June. As we reported yesterday, Apple is going to bring the iPhone to Verizon (unless plans change). AT&T has had the exclusive benefit of providing coverage for the iPhone so far. That is expected to change this year. However, according to multiple sources, Apple is still going to give AT&T some exclusive deals in the future. Lets not forget that the iPad 3G is also covered exclusively by AT&T.

Apple is going to provide AT&T with exclusive access to iPad and early access to iPhone HD. That should be enough to keep AT&T happy for now. AT&T is trying to improve its service and has introduced solutions such as AT&T Microcell to help iPhone owners get a better quality of service at home or in office. We do not even know if Verizon is any better in handling all the load that iPhone owners can put on its wireless networks. It’s premature to assume otherwise.

The good new is that Apple is finally getting ready to give iPad developers more tools to develop higher quality apps for iPad. Apple has just released iPhone SDK 3.2 to its developers (with support for the iPad). Considering all the big plans Apple has concocted for the iPad, this is just a start. So if you haven’t developed your iPad yet, now you’ve got the tools to get it done.