Apple Throws hat into Location Based Services (LBS) with trademark application for Mobile Me

Reuters has reported the following...Apple Computer Inc. (AAPL.O: Quote, Profile, Research) has filed to trademark the phrase "Mobile Me" for use in a wide range of businesses, furthering speculation it could introduce an iPod phone.  From the article... "We believe this is further indication of (Apple's) strategic direction to extend its iPod + iTunes and Mac franchises into new business areas including smart phones, value-added mobile content services, and the broader consumer electronics space," American Technology Research analyst Shaw Wu wrote in a note on Thursday. See http://yahoo.reuters.com/financeQuoteCompanyNewsArticle.jhtml?duid=mtfh28220_2006-01-12_19-33-50_n12335935_newsml