VoIP Inc. claims $1.25 billion patent

VoIP Inc. is at it again. Notorious for puffing its business with relentless press releases, it has issued another claiming its click-to-call patent is worth a staggering $1.25 billion. And it has retained a California law firm to take action against 100 companies--many of which are Fortune 500 companies.

VoIP Inc. share price is now below a penny after it was forced to close its VoIP business last week, and the firm has not been contactable since. But despite a gaggle of disgruntled creditors, customers and investors the company continues to issue press releases claiming it offers "turnkey Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communications solutions for service providers, resellers and consumers worldwide."

The latest VoIP Inc. press release says that "based on information provided from some of the industry's leading technology experts and the fact that this (click-to-call) technology is being implemented at an ultra-hyper rate domestically and internationally, Byron T. Ball, attorney at BALL LAW FIRM, LLP, stated, "I believe the current value of the patent could exceed 1.25 billion dollars.""

"We have identified over 100 companies that have willfully infringed on our patents. We intend to stop the infringement and defend our technology and the patents behind it. These patents and the business they represent will be utilized to provide the shareholders with the value they deserve and have long awaited," stated CEO Anthony Cataldo.

Neither VoIP Inc. nor Ball returned calls to explain exactly how they determined the patent was worth $1.25 billion. The action follows a flock of successful and pending VoIP patent claims by various telcos and vendors. Vonage has clocked up $240 million in patent breaches.

Florida-based VoIP Inc. has had a colorful history, starting life as a tea trading company. Its founder Steve Ivester is a convicted felon and its former chief operating officer Shawn Lewis left after pleading guilty to drug charges. Lewis declared himself bankrupt as has the company's chief accounting officer Robert Staats. Staats was the media contact for this latest press release.

For more:
- VoIP Inc. Release [1]
- VoIP Inc. may sue you Rich Tehrani Blog [2]
- VoIP Inc. lawyering up for a massive click-to-call patent infringement suit Russel Shaw Blog [3]
- Verizon's VoIP Patent Game Continues Gigaom Blog [4]

Related Articles:
VoIP Inc. goes down owing Verizon $8 million Report [5]
VoIP Inc. takes a $24M hit, closes network and loses staff Report [6]