Mobiles reviews - visual

Apple faces increased lawsuit pressure over Visual Voicemail system

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 19:07:28 +0000

Remember that technology firm that came out of the woodwork and sued Apple over the iPhone’s Visual Voicemail feature ? Well, unlike other patent-squatters in the business, Klausner Technologies actually had a pretty solid case. The firm sued Apple, AT&T, SimulScribe, and others over patents 5,572,576 and 5,283,818 , claiming that Visual Voicemail infringed on Klausner’s IP rights. The firm is seeking $360m in damages from Apple. Well, it looks like SimulScribe has just settled with Klausner Technologies, leaving co-defendant Apple in a weaker position to defend itself against Klausner’s claims. SimulScribe has agreed to a licensing deal with Klausner Technologies. Apple might want to just go ahead and settle with Klausner. There’s nothing like a little licensing-love to make things run a bit more smoothly. Then again, with the way Apple’s stock is headed, we can see why Steve might want to fight this battle to the bitter end. Let’s see how this one plays out. [Via: MacWorld UK ] ---Related Articles at IntoMobile:Vodafone Germany gets jiggy with Visual Voicemail too - kind ofApple and AT&T sued over iPhone's Visual Voicemail technology - another patent infringement caseAlltel to offer Voice-to-Text voicemail service - SpinVoxiPhone Visual Voicemail is 2007's best featureGet iPhone-like visual voicemail on your BlackBerry, Windows Mobile phone

iPhone Visual Voicemail is 2007's best feature

Sat, 29 Dec 2007 15:12:34 +0000

We’ve seen our fair share of cool things this year - that’s 2007, in case you were confused. And, we’re sure David Pogue, the New York Times‘ tech columnist, has gotten hit mitts on more gadgets than we could ever hope to grope. With the year winding down Mr. Pogue has posted up a list of 2007’s most important features - “Pogies,” as he likes to call them. So, what gadget-feature does David Pogue consider the “best” of 2007? Why, the iPhone’s signature Visual Voicemail feature, of course. Wading through voicemails by caller and playing individual messages at a whim is definitely a trick feature - it’s helped us avoid unwanted voicemails more than we can remember. Visual Voicemail puts the power of the voicemail inbox in the palm of your hand, and in front of your eyes, as the case may be. The iPhone just keeps racking up the consumer awards , and we have to agree that it’s the snazziest and most innovative gadgets of the year. It may not be the most feature-packed, but in terms of industry-changing, the iPhone is where it’s at. What’s your favorite feature of 2007? [Via: NYT ] ---Related Articles at IntoMobile:Alltel to offer Voice-to-Text voicemail service - SpinVoxVodafone Germany gets jiggy with Visual Voicemail too - kind ofHere's another iPhone award - ComputerWorld names iPhone as 2nd most innovative product in 2007Get iPhone-like visual voicemail on your BlackBerry, Windows Mobile phoneSave some bucks - drop the iPhone data plan

Apple and AT&T sued over iPhone's Visual Voicemail technology - another patent infringement case

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 19:35:00 +0000

Well, this isn’t just another patent infringement case against the iPhone. Whereas all previous lawsuits basically rested on the shakiest of ground , the latest lawsuit brought against Apple and AT&T by Klausner Technologies has some merit. The firm has alleged that the iPhone’s Visual Voicemail feature infringes on Klausner’s U.S. Patents 5,572,576 and 5,283,818 . The lawsuit was filed against Apple and AT&T for offering the patented technology to iPhone customers and is seeking damage and future royalties that could amount to $360 million. Outlined in the lawsuit is Klauser’s claim that AT&T and Apple have infringed their intellectual property by giving iPhone users a method to selectively listen to messages in the voicemail system - Visual Voicemail. And, it seems that the lawsuit has some firm ground to stand upon. Klausner Technologies has already successfully established their intellectual property rights in previous litigation against Time Warner AOL for the AOL Voicemail system. The firm was able to show that their patents were valid and landed a licensing agreement with Time Warner AOL. “We have litigated this patent successfully on two prior occasions,” said Greg Dovel of Dovel & Luner, counsel for Klausner. “With the signing of each new licensee, we continue to receive further confirmation of the strength of our visual voicemail patents.” And, to add more legitimacy to the lawsuit, the firm has filed similar lawsuits against Comcast Corporation, Cablevision Systems Corp., and Skype for infringing on Klausner patents by allowing users to selectively listen to voicemail messages. Good luck, Apple and AT&T (not to mention all those other firms currently under fire). We’re usually quick to dismiss frivolous lawsuits, but this one sounds like it’s of the valid-variety. A settlement might just be your best bet. We should note that Klausner Technologies granted an OEM license to Apple to cover the Apple Newton PDA when it was launched all those years ago. Interesting. [Via: MacWorld ] ---Related Articles at IntoMobile:Apple sued for patent infringement - SP Technologies claims patent over iPhone's virtual keyboardWoman sues iPhone trio over price cuts - Steve Jobs, Apple, AT&T all named in latest lawsuitVodafone Germany gets jiggy with Visual Voicemail too - kind ofCalifornia man files class action lawsuit against Apple over bricking of unlocked iPhonesAlltel [...]