Google Settles Voicemail Patent Claim

It’s been a busy, yet profitable year and a half for inventor Judah Klausner.  In late 2007, his company, Klausner Technologies Inc, sued Apple and six other companies for $360 million for violating patents on visual voicemail technology.  He has won settlements from Apple, Skype and LG Electronics since then, but on Monday, Klausner announced that he has settled a similar claim with Google as well.

According to Reuters, this dispute involved patents covering visual voicemail as well.  This technology works like email by sending visual alerts of voice messages to computers or phones, and allowing users to selectively retrieve their messages.  Google currently offers web-based phone services, and it has also built the Android open software platform for smartphones.  It is thought that these technologies were at the center of the dispute.

While Klausner did not comment on the terms of his recent deal with Google, his suit against the internet giant has been dismissed and the issues cannot be revived in court.

In addition, Klausner stated that T-Mobile has agreed to license his European visual voicemail patents in 17 European countries.  This agreement covers a new visual voicemail service, and it marks the first time someone has licensed visual voicemail technology for a mobile phone other than Apple.

Google Complied With Apple’s Request for Android

Released last October, many complained that T-Mobile’s G1 did not have multi-touch technology.  The reason?  According to Venture Beat, the G1 is based on Google’s Android platform, and Apple asked Google not to implement multi-touch technology.

Apparently, an Android team member said they were relieved that Google didn’t go against Apple’s wishes, given the current storm brewing between Apple and Palm.  Furthermore, by honoring Apple’s wishes, Google’s relationship with the company can remain strong.

Google specially tailors many of their products for the iPhone, such as Google Maps and other formatted web pages.  Furthermore, Google’s chief executive, Eric Schmidt, is on Apple’s board of directors.

While Google complied with this wish from Apple, some wonder if multi-touch will become so important that Google will be forced to implement multi-touch in the Android.  Such a question may depend on the course of events that follow Palm’s release of the Pre.  If Palm is allowed to keep multi-touch for their phone, Google will be forced to implement multi-touch in the Android.