Vonage learns just how tough the telcos are

U.S. VoIP challenger Vonage is finding out just how tough the North American telcos can be. Fresh from settling its infringement action with Sprint Nextel for a cool $80 million and still embroiled in litigation with Verizon, Vonage got a new legal salvo from another telco incumbent Friday.

This time the writ is from AT&T. ZD Net has the patent infringement details [1] of what looks like a very wide claim, but who would be surprised at that. Presumably AT&T's patent lawyers know some thing we don't, but the action is being bought in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, and AT&T is alleging Vonage infringed a patent that allows customers to make VoIP calls from standard telephones. AT&T says it tried to reach an agreement with Vonage to license the patent.

Vonage's lawyers are working overtime as this is the third infringement action Vonage is facing from a telco. Earlier this year, a court found Vonage infringed on Verizon patents [2]. Vonage won a stay on an order that would have prevented it signing up new customers and says it is close to implementing workarounds for the infringement.

Vonage is one of the largest independent VoIP providers in the U.S. and with nearly 2.5 million customers appears to be paying the price of being too successful as it continues to heavily promote its $24.99 a month, all-you-can-eat plan.

For More:
- Vonage gets hit with another patent action Report [3]
- Vonage infringed on Verizon patents Report [4]
- Vonage goes to court--again Commentary [5] 

Related Articles:
Courts issue Vonage, Sprint and Verizon verdicts Article [6] 
Damages vacated on Verizon v. Vonage appeal Report [7]