[Confused1]

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[gogoloo]

The biggest patent issue against vonage deals with how they connect the voip traffic to the PSTN "Ma'Bell" system. This is also known as a "Gateway". Sometimes also referred to as a "Media Gateway". So, why is this important? Well, I'll tell you. The large portion of voip providers deal with their own SIP servers, network systems, sales, billing department, tech support, and a lot of other aspects of providing you with "VOIP" telephone service. The one thing that most of these voip providers don't do however, is to use their own "Gateways" to connect your voip call to the PSTN and the other way around. That is very expensive and massive. The goal is to get the voip as close to the destination as possible BEFORE going through the gateway and onto the PSTN. From that point on, different charges, rates, contracts, fees, etc... come into play. Now, to have your own gateways also means trying to place these connection all over the country. That is why most companies realize that it is best to let specialized companies provide specialized services.This is where the companies such as Level 3, XO, Global Crossing, etc... come into play. These are the carriers that provide the backbone to move the traffic and connect to the PSTN. In a traditional voip call, residential from packet8, you pick up the phone and you get a SIP connection to Packet8 via your internet connection. The SIP server at Packet8 determines where you want to call, the LCR (Least Cost Routing) for the call, it contacts and negotiates with the nearest gateway that they have a contract with; e.g. level 3 in Cheyenne Wyoming if you happen to be calling close to here. Then that SIP server becomes "Match Maker" and lets you and your internet connection talk directly with the level 3 gateway which connects you to the person you are calling. The other method, that only a few other providers do, is to have ALL the traffic, both the SIP and RTP traffic go through the voip provider. The provider then contracts with someone like level 3 to move that traffic to the gateway it needs to go to and connect.The point is, MOST other providers are NOT responsible for the connection at the gateway. This connection is the responsibility of the carrier who owns the gateways. e.g. level 3. xo, global, etc.... These providers probably have permission to use these patented technologies, or an arrangement. Remember, these carriers are also the same carriers moving Verizon, ATT, Southern Bell, Qwest, and the other phone ILECS/RBOCS traffic around the country. Very unlikely that you are going to sue your own backbone provider.There are some providers however that feel that if they have a LOT of traffic going through a particular gateway area, that it might be better for them to connect their own gateway equipment and such in some of these areas to connect the voip call to the PSTN. It would be a lot cheaper, and they could control the traffic flow better. This however is where the legal issues come into play. What if you are using your own hardware to connect to the PSTN and that hardware is patented?I bring this up NOT because I am definitely saying that Vonage has their own equipment as gateways in certain places. I am not 100% sure of that. Only that that would be a reason to worry about patents. I bring it up, because to the best of my knowledge, Packet8 doesn't use their own hardware at the gateways. Therefore, the responsibility for connecting to the PSTN falls with the carriers that packet8 contracts to. i.e. Level 3.Now this is only 1 of the 3 charges, but the most significant and most talked about. If Packet8 was using their own gateways to connect to the PSTN, I would be worried. But, as I understand, Packet8 does what most other providers do, and contracts the media gateway functions connecting to the PSTN to level 3, global, XO, and/or whomever else.