6 replies to this topic

[DavARei]

I was reading in the Wall Street this morn about the legal action filed by Verizon agains Vonage ...
Verizon is claiming copywrite infringement ... and Vonage may get shut down.


Amonst other things, the ability for internet phone calls to connect to land line phones is apparently copywrited by Verizon.
OK. I'm not a Vonage user, but they also noted the ability for a mobile device to connect WiFi into a network for the purposes of telephone connections is a copywrite held by Verizon.
--- I do use internet phone

Vonage doesn't currently have WiFi capabilities that I'm aware of, but there are other services out there that do.
Vonage may get shut down out of this suit ... as may a service called 8X8 ... and many other upstarts that are trying to take on the internet phone services

Today - Vonage and 8X8
Tomorrow -?- Skype? (SP??)

Edited by DavARei, 07 April 2007 - 04:40 PM.

[chriso_86]

There will always be a voip service around. Probably run by Verizon or Bell South, AT&T, or SBC. I am currently in a VOIP Administration class and we were talking about Vonage the other day. They really aren't that big, only a few hundred thousand customers. So, really this isn't going to effect that many people. And Vonage uses a crappy codec that provides crappy quality so they can fit more calls across one set of lines. Personally, after you know what they are they are a crappy company that deserves to be squashed!! I am voting for Verizon!!

[DavARei]

I actually use VoiceWing ~ which is Verizon ...
and know Vonage isn't that big, but to me, this comes off as a power play / hat trick.

Once Vonage and 8X8 are MIA, they can move on to a few of the others.
K. little conspiracy theory there ...

I just thought it was interesting and posted it.

[Camaro]

To be honest I dont think it matters if vonage was the scum of the internet, the problem as I see it is how the hell can verizon claim copywrite, and not come into problems with antimonopoly laws.

[DavARei]

Exactly
I mean, they are claiming the ability to connect between an internet based phone service and a land line service as their copywritted domain.

But what up with Comcast phone service??
Doesn't that connect internet based phone service with land lines?

Maybe a little conspiricy theory on my part, but I'm going with Verizon knows it can't beat a company with deep pockets. I mean Vonage has been riding in the red ... well since there has been a Vonage.
I believe that they are yet to make a profit.

[chriso_86]

Oh, I'm sure Vonage makes a profit. It really doesn't cost much to run a voip service.

[DavARei]

I think the Sall St. meant a reported profit.
A good accountant can hid profit in soo many ways, that I'm amazed companies ever report profit.
...defered expenses, amortization schedules, payroll adjustmens, donations, book costs vs. actual costs (you do know that your machanic charges you for X # hours labor regardless of actual time spent )
Other than to push stock prices up that is.

And in that sense, Vonage still is in the red.