26 April 2007

The internet telephony industry let out a collective sigh of relief
Tuesday after a federal appeals court issued a stay order allowing
Vonage to continue signing up new customers during its appeal in a
major patent-infringement case.

The case is being closely watched by the internet telephony
industry, as opponent Verizon's patents might also affect other
voice-over internet protocol, or VOIP, providers' ability to connect
their services to the public telephone network. Tuesday's temporary reprieve
(.pdf) means the window for dozens of other VOIP carriers remains open,
for the time being, while Vonage attempts to disprove Verizon's
wide-ranging patent claims.