Vonage: No Workaround For Verizon Patents
Depending on who Vonage is talking to, the message of whether or not it could implement a technology workaround to Verizon's patents was different. Now, court documents reveal there was never any workaround.
The vastly different messages put the nation's largest VoIP provider in somewhat of a hypocritical situation. While those most important to its financial health were told not to worry, its lawyers are telling the court it would take months to implement a workaround.
Vonage is asking an appeals court to allow it to continue to use Verizon's technology during the appeals process.
Worse yet, court documents revealed Monday that there is no workaround at all, meaning that the company's public stance may have been nothing more than a stop-gap measure designed to keep customers and investors from defecting.
"There are many options available to us and we are preparing to implement them if necessary," the company said in a news update for customers on its web site, according to news reports. A BetaNews check showed those statements had apparently been removed.
In an April 6 court filing that had not been released until this past weekend, Vonage said it "currently [had] no workarounds that moot the need for a stay," and one could take "many months" to implement.
A large portion of the statement containing the possible consequences of a injunction on Vonage's business was redacted by the company, as well as other sections. However, it is likely any financial losses could be enough to make it necessary to shut down the company altogether.
This weekend's revelation calls into question interim CEO Jeffrey Citron's claims Thursday that a workaround was in development. Citron was named to the post following the abrupt resignation of Michael Snyder that same day as the statement was made.
Vonage was not making any further public comment on these latest developments.