Sprint Nextel has sued Vonage,
and Voiceglo claiming they have infringed on seven patents related to Internet telephony technology.
The lawsuit was filed in federal court by one of Sprint Nextel's subsidiaries, seeking an injunction that would
bar the defendants from using Sprint Nextel's patented
technology and seeks unspecified monetary damages. It's unclear from what I have read if this is related to the Nextel patents that use packetized delivery of voice for the annoying "push-to-talk" feature that Nextel phones have. If it is related to this patent, then one-way CB-radio like functionality is not the same as full-duplex VoIP communication. Besides, VocalTec did VoIP way before Nextel ever did.
From what I understand, the patents cover technology that enable the processing and delivery of voice over Internet Protocol. Yeah, like there aren't thousands of other companies does the same thing! Yes, Sprint Nextel invented Voice over IP. Yeah, right...
This stinks of a money shakedown if you ask me. But what perfect revenge for a traditional carrier to sue Vonage just before Vonage launched their rumored IPO, which would no doubt lower the IPO by millions of dollars - or if you gauge by Skype's acquisition - BILLIONS of dollars. What sweet revenge that would be, eh Sprint?
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Sprint should have a class action lawsuit thrown at them for this fraudlent, unsubstantiated claim. Anyone who knows anything about VoIP, Vonage and Sprint knows that Cisco is the driver behind Vonage VoIP as it is Cisco hardware that is the engine and driver for most successful VoIP.
Sprint claiming to have patents on VoIP is like Microsoft saying you can't send email without using Outlook.
Packets are packets, it does not matter whether it is voice, data or video. Switching, routing and decode/encode takes place at the hardware. Is Sprint now a hardware company like Cisco?
Sprint should try to sue Cisco for VoIP! Well no that would not pass mustard nor would it hurt a IPO of a company that seriously threatens to impact Sprint.
Ask Sprint about the patents of their Triple Play- I think it was called ION. Several billions of dollars were thrown away and several jobs lost over a product that would and did work- when last-mile access was available.
If Sprint and MCI were a favorable vote away from a merger, certainly both companies were well informed on the accounting practices of the potential partner.
If such is the case, MCI without a product like ION to funnel irregular monies through got caught while Sprint with ION as the perfect alibe formed a merger with Nextel. It is only speculation but it is a question I always asked that federal regulators apparently did not ask.
Unfortunate for Vonage as this news definitely will impact their IPO plans.
Unfortunate for our country if Sprint is allowed to use tactics like this to protect their own Interest and shareholders.