Apple, AT&T sued over iPhone's visual voice mail

Klausner Technologies wants $360 million in damages related to patents it has successfully asserted twice that relate to visual voice-mail systems.

Tom Krazit Former Staff writer, CNET News

Tom Krazit writes about the ever-expanding world of Google, as the most prominent company on the Internet defends its search juggernaut while expanding into nearly anything it thinks possible. He has previously written about Apple, the traditional PC industry, and chip companies. E-mail Tom.

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Tom Krazit

Dec. 12, 2007 5:03 p.m. PT

Apple has been sued for patent infringement over the iPhone's visual voice mail feature.

Apple has been sued over the iPhone's visual voice mail feature. CNET Networks

Klausner Technologies announced Monday that it has filed suit against the company in everyone's favorite rocket docket, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. Klauser is claiming that the visual voice mail feature infringes on two patents that are said to cover the iPhone's method of selectively listening to voice mail messages rather than in the order in which they were received.

Unlike the other inane iPhone lawsuits filed since the device made its debut in June, Apple might have to take this one a little more seriously. Klausner has already won cases against AOL and Vonage asserting the patents in question here, and is asking for $360 million in royalties and damages.