News
Apple, AT&T sued over iPhone’s Visual Voicemail feature
By Charles Starrett
Senior Editor, iLounge
Published: Monday, December 3, 2007
News Category: iPhone
New York-based Klausner Technologies has filed suit against Apple and AT&T over the iPhone’s Visual Voicemail feature, claiming patent infringement and seeking $360 million in damages and future royalties. In a statement, Klausner said it believes the iPhone “violates Klausner’s intellectual-property rights by allowing users to selectively retrieve voice messages via the iPhone’s inbox display.” The company also claims that founder Judah Klausner was “the inventor of the PDA and electronic organizer.” Klausner Technologies has previously filed similar patent-infringement suits against Comcast, Cablevision, and eBay’s Skype VoIP service.
Related Stories
- Apple airs new Siri-focused iPhone 4S ads
- Apple asks European standards body to set Frand rules
- iPhone accounts for 40% of new Sprint customers in Q4 2011
- Key iPhone, iPod executive left Apple last year
- Motorola sought lucrative royalty on iPhone, iPad sales
- AT&T explains ‘unlimited data’ user throttling, blames users?
Comments
If you have a comment, news tip, advertising inquiry, or coverage request, a question about iPods/iPhones/iPad or accessories, or if you sell or market iPod/iPhone/iPad products or services, read iLounge's Comments + Questions policies before posting, and fully identify yourself if you do. We will delete comments containing advertising, astroturfing, trolling, personal attacks, offensive language, or other objectionable content, then ban and/or publicly identify violators.
Recent News
- iLounge Weekly coming early Monday, giveaway reminder
- iBackFlip launches Somersault case for iPad
- Motorola loses third patent case against Apple in Germany
- Apple rushing to pick demo apps for next iPad launch
- Apple airs new Siri-focused iPhone 4S ads
- Periscope Audio Lab releases SpaceSampler
- Evernote Hello improves contact entry features
- eMailGanizer Pro adds Universal Inbox, Smart Folders
- Scosche rolls out bassDock for iPad
- German court rejects Apple bid to ban Galaxy 10.1N
Recent Reviews
- Cygnett Apollo for iPhone 4/4S
- Case-Mate Pop! ID for iPhone 4/4S
- Case-Mate Pop! for iPhone 4/4S
- Case-Mate Pop! With Stand for iPhone 4/4S
- Solid Line Products RightShift 2 Removable Keyboard Case for iPad 2
- Spigen SGP Kuel F60Q Battery Pack
- Just Mobile Highway + Highway Pro for iPod, iPhone + iPad
- Speck CandyShell and CandyShell Satin for iPhone 4/4S
- Jensen JiPS-310i Docking Speaker for iPod, iPhone & iPad
- FrappeDesign Smart Sleeve for iPad 2
Recent Articles
- iOS Gems: Adventures of Tintin, Reckless Racing 2 + Scramble With Friends
- Ask iLounge 2-3-12
- Making The Case For - And Against - An Apple iTV Television
- Instant Expert: iTunes U for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch
- Instant Expert: Secrets & Features of iBooks 2.0
- iLounge’s 2012 CES Best of Show Awards: Honorable Mentions
- iLounge’s 2012 CES Best of Show Awards: iPod, iPhone, iPad + Mac
- iOS Gems: Bug Princess, Dora Hops Into Phonics, It’s A Small World, Sleepy Jack + X Is For X-Ray
- The Complete Guide to Managing iTunes Videos
- Editorial: As CES Grows, Will Microsoft’s Loss Be Apple’s Gain?
1
I love it when companies that don’t release a goddamn thing come back and sue! How about release a product with the feature you claimed to have created and you won’t have to worry about suing?!?!
Posted by Frank Z on December 3, 2007 at 1:44 PM (PDT)
2
They’re a bit late aren’t they? They should have known about this in Jan.
Posted by Japester on December 3, 2007 at 4:10 PM (PDT)
3
What this article fails to mention is that the company also invented air. You know the thing we breath. They are in the middle of a pending lawsuit right now with God.
Posted by sdasda on December 3, 2007 at 8:55 PM (PDT)
4
I wonder when they claim that they invented this feature. I recall having a cell phone at least 8 years ago in Japan that had the ability to pick which voice mail to listen to from a list.
Posted by Robert Kawaratani on December 4, 2007 at 12:11 AM (PDT)
5
I wanted to write a nice paragraph BUT somehow it’s not worth. Just another company who did and want and do and will. ... no backbone these companies these days
Posted by dennis on December 4, 2007 at 5:04 AM (PDT)
6
Hey ... Klausner ... I invented the slide rule ... where’s my cut? You’re such a putz.
Posted by ipodder06 on December 4, 2007 at 6:51 AM (PDT)
7
If the two patents in question are legit, then there’s not a lot Apple can do about it. After reading the description of the actual mid-1990s patents (U.S. Patents 5,572,576 and 5,283,818) on the U.S. Patent website, it does seem to cover exactly how the iPhone can identify and select voice mail. Klausner does claim that they have licensed the patent to other companies; if that’s indeed the case then Apple has even less of chance of fighting this guy off.
As to how late is too late: how do you know if Klausner hasn’t been negotiating (or attempting to) with Apple all along? Legal affairs—particularly contractual ones—rarely move very fast, especially if one party (Apple, for instance) isn’t all that motivated to come to terms.
Posted by flatline response on December 4, 2007 at 7:29 AM (PDT)