We have iMacs, iPods, iPhones and iPads. But why didn't Apple call its hotly anticipated new smartwatch the iWatch?

The answer may lie with one Athlone-based company. Probendi, a software firm that is gearing up to make its own smartwatch, showed considerable foresight when it registered a Europe-wide trademark for the term "iWatch" in 2008.

As a result, Apple may have had to opt for the name 'Apple Watch' instead.

The small Athlone company was setup by an Italian living in the area, 50-year-old Daniele Di Salvo.

Its product is a communications service between professional organisations, such as some Italian police forces, which use it to transfer mugshots.

And now, the company is getting ready to rub salt into the wounds of Apple's trademark gap - by releasing his own smartwatch using the iWatch name.

What's more, the device is expected to run Android, the operating system made by Apple's deadliest rival, Google. Mr Di Salvo told RTE Radio this morning that he could not talk about any possible negotiations with Apple over the name but insisted he would "absolutely push ahead" with plans for a smartwatch.

"We know the name is easily associated with a smartwatch but it is not [yet] a smartwatch," he said.

He also told the international newswire Bloomberg that he was currently sourcing manufacturing partners in China to make the new version of a smartwatch.

He also said that his own iWatch would have a square touchscreen, GPS satnav facilities and an accelerometer to facilitate health tracking and other apps.

A spokesman for Apple said that the company had no comment to make.

It is not the first time that Apple has seen trademark controversy.

The company sued online retailer Amazon.com for using 'Appstore' as the name for its Kindle software marketplace, kicking off two years of court battles that were eventually dismissed. Amazon continues to use the name today.

In 2012, Apple paid almost €50m to settle a trademark dispute in China over rights to use the name iPad.

And in 2006, Steve Jobs previewed a product called the ITV but changed it to Apple TV following objections from British television network iTV.

Meanwhile, Apple CEO Tim Cook (inset above) has said that the Apple Watch will need to be recharged every day. The company says that the product will be launched in "early 2015".

Sales of smartwatches up to now have been largely limited to sports and racing devices, such as those made by Garmin, or health-conscious wrist gadgets such as Fitbit.

Smartwatches from Samsung and Sony, which show notifications and social messages, have achieved modest sales.

However, the watch trademark controversy has not affected Apple's immediate prospects or financial performance.

The company's stock market value has risen €50bn (to €490bn) in the last 14 days after it reported strong profits and soaring sales for its latest iPhone 6 handset.

Irish Independent