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Vonage's Comment on Verizon VoIP Suit: 'Won't Hurt our Business'
[February 26, 2007]

Vonage's Comment on Verizon VoIP Suit: 'Won't Hurt our Business'


TMCnet Contributing Editor
 
Vonage (News - Alert) has released an official statement from its chief executive officer saying that Verizon's patent infringement suit, which currently contends in court, won't hurt its business. The executive appears to want to debunk news report theories of Vonage facing an order to close shop if Verizon (News - Alert) wins the case.


 
A news story published by the USA TODAY was one amongst many which surfaced exposing a possible scenario for the VoIP provider's future following a negative legal outcome: "Vonage, one of the best-known brands in the Internet phone world, acknowledged last week that it doesn't have a plan for getting around use of technology that Verizon (VZ) claims violates patents it owns."
 
"If Verizon prevails in court, Vonage could be forced to shut down, at least temporarily, while it redesigns its service," the USA TODAY reported last Tuesday.
 
The following was released by Vonage today: "It is wrong and irresponsible to presuppose either the outcome or the impact this litigation would have on our business," commented Mike Snyder, Vonage's chief executive officer. "First and foremost, we are confident we have not infringed on any of Verizon's patents and, in any case, we believe the Verizon patents are invalid."
 
In regards to the VoIP provider's reported more than 2 million customers, Vonage it's pretty confident in assuring no service interruptions: "Regardless of how this litigation is ultimately decided, Vonage's customers will see no change whatsoever to any aspect of their phone service," concluded Snyder.
 
Vonage and Verizon began delivering open arguments for the multiple patent infringement case last Wednesday. Verizon had filed suit against Vonage last June alleging that the VoIP provider violated seven of the telecom's patents including wireless telephony technology, voicemail and call forwarding.
 
Vonage publicly pointed out that Verizon is one of its toughest competitors. Being that, the company said it will fight the "frivolous" fight until the end. Yes, you've got it right, Vonage indeed called the lawsuit frivolous in the statement it released on Monday.
 
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Johanne Torres is contributing editor for TMCnet and Internet Telephony magazine. To see more articles by Johanne Torres, please visit her columnist page.
 


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