USB Standards Body Rejects Palm Complaint on iTunes Syncing

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on September 23, 2009 - 9:37am.

Los Angeles - The standards body for Universal Serial Bus (USB) has rejected Pre smartphone maker Palm's (NASD: PALM) claim that Apple (NASD: AAPL) was hampering competition by preventing the device from syncing with iTunes to transfer media files.

Instead, the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) said that Palm could be violating its membership agreement by allegedly misusing Apple's USB Vendor ID number in order to fool iTunes into thinking the Pre is an iPhone.

The group has asked Palm to respond to the matter within seven days.

"We engaged with the USB-IF because we believe consumers should have freedom and choice in how and where they use the non-rights managed media they already own," Palm said in a statement published by All Things D.

"We are reviewing the letter from the USB-IF and will respond as appropriate."

Apple has already twice blocked Palm's attempts to enable the Pre to sync with iTunes, which prompted Palm's appeal to the USB-IF.

Related Links:
http://snipurl.com/s2p2g

http://snipurl.com/s2p3r (DMW previous coverage)

http://www.usb.org