Vonage Survives Patent Dispute, But Can it Run a Reliable Phone Service?

Vonage has settled another patent dispute this time with Nortel, Reuters is reporting.

The case involved a counter-claim filed by Nortel against Digital Packet Licensing, a company Vonage acquired two years later in 2006. The dispute centered on patents behind emergency and information call numbers in addition to click-to-call technology.

The settlement closes the final a piece of major litigation against Vonage following suits brought by AT&T, Verizon Communications and Sprint Nextel earlier in the year.

According to Reuters the settlement will involve a limited cross license to three Nortel and three Vonage patents and will not call for any monetary payments by any party. Claims over past damages will be dismissed without prejudice, Reuters reports Vonage as saying.

Vonage shares rose 14 cents to $2.14 on the NYSE, that 3 cents off its high of $2.17

As a long time Vonage user, I'm happy that the provider has settled its last score. Now maybe Vonage can get back to delivering a reliable phone service. Over the past few months my Vonage service has given me a dial tone, allowed me to dial a number, and then given me a fast busy signal forcing me to hang up. Meanwhile folk on the other end of the line pick up the phone, but hear squat. Is it just me or has anybody else out there had a similar problem?