What the heck is a Vingle?

Rumors have been circulating about a new product(s) from Apple and those rumors have been semi-confirmed by the Apple Insider weblog. It appears the iPod maker filed for 3 trademarks at the United States Patent and Trademark Office on October 7th for something called a Vingle.

From the Apple Insider article:

The first filing describes Vingle as: “Telecommunication services, namely, electronic transmission of streamed and downloadable audio and video files via computer and other communications networks; providing on-line chat rooms, bulletin boards and community forums for the transmission of messages among computer users concerning entertainment, music, concerts, videos, radio, television, film, news, sports, games and cultural events; web casting services; delivery of messages by electronic transmission; provision of connectivity services and access to electronic communications networks, for transmission or reception of audio, video or multimedia content;”

A second filing describes Vingle as an audio entertainment service that may be available in its retail stores: “Retail store services in the field of entertainment, namely, musical, audio and audiovisual works and related merchandise, provided via the internet and other computer and electronic communication networks; data storage and retrieval services; computerized data storage services; electronic storage and retrieval of documents, data, images, audio, video and audiovisual works; information, advisory and consultancy services relating to all the aforesaid”

A final filing is more vague, describing Vingle as “Computers; computer hardware; computer peripherals; hand held computers; computer terminals; personal digital assistants; electronic organizers; electronic notepads; apparatus for recording, transmission and reproduction of sounds, images, or other data; portable and handheld digital electronic devices for recording, organizing, transmitting, manipulating, and reviewing audio… More At Apple Insider »“

Om Malik has a short post up describing it as a Networked iPod and also points to a couple interesting blurbs at Engadget…

Engadget got wind of Patent No. D504,899 for what they speculate as being a “Tablet Mac.” and as far back as August of 2004, discovered that a European design patent had been filed for an Apple tablet PC device.

So folks, can we now assume that around this time next year, Vingle bells will be ringing for Apple enthusiasts?

Is the Vingle Trademark application indicative of one new all-in-one or two separate products… or the birth of another Apple product series offering that will exist parallel to their iconic iPod line?

Leave your comments below.