Vonage sees no workaround to Verizon's VoIP patent
Remember how Vonage said it would try to find a way to continue providing internet telephone service to customers without violating Verizon's patent? Yeah, that might not work.Last month, a federal jury found that Vonage's VoIP technology violated patents held by Verizon. A judge ordered Vonage to stop signing up new customers, but that order was stayed pending appeal.
Now it looks like all of Vonage's eggs are in that appeals basket. Because the company says Verizon's patent is so broad that it might not be possible to pass phone calls between the internet and telephone lines without violating (or licensing) Verizon's intellectual property.
On Friday, Vonage filed documents that suggest it would take months to set up a technical workaround -- if one could even be found. The company predicts (probably correctly) that its current customers would not stick around waiting for such a workaround to be found.
[via Techdirt]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jonathan said 11:40AM on 4-17-2007
Does anyone have Vonage out there? What are you going to do?
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james 42 said 11:46AM on 4-17-2007
I have Vonage (home office). If the service went down, but they had a chance at coming back in a few months, I would give them that chance and just use my mobile as my primary number.
I have already informed my clients that if they can no reach me though my main (Vonage) number, call my mobile.
If Vonage dies all together, I would check with my cable company if they could give me a second VOiP line, if not, then I would go full time on the mobile and just get more minutes.
Verizon (who I had for a mere three months before jumping ship) will not easily get my business back. Especially not this way, though this is more the fault of an idiot judge then Verizon.
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Robert said 11:42AM on 4-17-2007
Kinda makes you wonder what technology the "other" companies like Sunrocket and Packet8 are using for this function?? Will one of these end up buying Vonage's customers??
I WILL be Vonage subscriber at least until next January (since I blindly took them up on their 12 month in advance savings!)
Vonage's web-based control panel does allow me to route my calls to my Verizon (ouch!) Wireless phone - or any other number - so HOPEfully, they can keep this service alive even if the basic VOIP service dies...
It surprises me when I actually look at my Vonage usage details - in the last monthly cycle I made only 5 outgoing calls and received 10. If someone had offered me home phone service for a flat rate of $1.44 a call I would have run from the deal, but that's what I've got!! Of course, my activity on the big-bully Verizon Wireless was much higher (I do have 2 teens)
Maybe Verizon will promote a deal to all Vonage customers to transfer their Vonage numbers to new cell accounts. Then maybe they won't charge me until next year when my Vonage pre-pay runs out?? ya think??
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Colin said 12:08AM on 4-18-2007
Does this patent fiasco apply up here in Canada? As much as I dislike Vonage and their infuriating "Oooh-oooh, ooh-ooh-ooh" ads, it would be a shame to see them fold.
My local cable company offers Shaw Digital Phone but the pricing seems to be hinging on Vonage's. I'm sure they'd love to be able to charge as much as the local telco.
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Robert said 9:37AM on 4-18-2007
This is what Vonage is saying on its website...
from http://www.vonage.com/customer_update.php
What is Vonage doing to address the patent issues in this case?
First and foremost, existing customers are not impacted by the current proceedings at the appellate court. Your phone service will not be impacted by anything in the ongoing proceedings. Please be assured, Vonage is prepared for any situation that may arise from this litigation. Vonage is also continuing to develop and design technical workarounds that would prevent Vonage’s phone service from infringing upon Verizon’s patents. As we’ve said before, we are very confident in our ability to overturn the jury’s verdict on a appeal as well as get a permanent stay in the meantime that enables business as usual for a very, very long time (up to 2 years is how long most appeals take).
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