Behind Your Business

Apple is attempting to put the brakes on potential for one of the first Windows Phone 7 Series smartphones. Apple's suit against HTC would block the company from releasing its HD2 mobile phone equipped with Microsoft's new mobile operating system in the U.S.

Apple's complaint before the U.S. International Trade Commission would stop the Taiwan-based HTC from importing some of its 7 Series phones into the U.S.

HTC has created some buzz recently for its HD2 phone. The device is the first Windows phone equipped with the HTC Sense user interface. It uses a sensor used to prevent false screen touches when the device is picked up to answer or make a phone call. The device also includes a light sensor that adjusts brightness automatically.

The HD2 is a super-thin phone with a high-resolution, 4.3-inch capacitive touch display, and a one-gigahertz Snapdragon processor by Qualcomm, and will use T-Mobile's 3G network.

So, why all the concern? Apparently Apple thinks the HD2 is too similar to its iPhone, observers say.

Core of Complaint

At the core of Apple's complaint is a claim that HTC has infringed on 20 patents covering various technologies that Apple said relate to the iPhone's interface, architecture and hardware.

Although HTC is based in Taiwan, it has U.S. headquarters in Bellevue, Wash. And some of the patents questioned in the lawsuit were likely developed in HTC's Seattle research and development lab.

"We can sit by and watch competitors steal our patented inventions, or we can do something about it," said Apple CEO Steve Jobs. "We've decided to do something about it. We think competition is healthy, but competitors should create their own original technology, not steal ours."

The lawsuit could affect not only the manufacturers and software providers, but carriers, too. T-Mobile USA could be hurt by the lawsuit, as...