Speculation has begun to mount that Acer is planning the imminent announcement of a MID (mobile internet device), after a recently-revealed patent application confirmed that the company is considering such a handheld. The patent, which covers the “ornamental design for a mobile internet device” and was filed in December 2007, suggests a full-touchscreen interface with minimal screen bezel and hardware controls.

HTC, RIM, Palm, Nokia and Panasonic are among multiple cellphone manufacturers against whom a Texas company, Saxon Innovations, have
Microsoft’s pay-per-use computing patent application, uncovered at 


Apple
An Apple patent describing a 




