p2p news / p2pnet: Mobile e-mail technology maker Visto is suing Microsoft for allegedly infringing on three patents related to how information is handled between servers and handheld devices such as cellular phones.

“The lawsuit, which seeks unspecified monetary damages and a permanent injunction to stop the alleged infringement, was filed late Wednesday, the same day Visto announced that NTP had acquired an equity stake in the startup and signed a patent licensing deal,” says the Associated Press.

“Visto’s allegations against Microsoft and its Windows Mobile 5.0 are similar to NTP’s against Research In Motion (RIM) – a Visto rival – which faces the possible shutdown of its popular BlackBerry messaging service in the U.S.”

Microsoft spokesman Jack Evans is quoted as saying, “Microsoft stands behind its products and respects intellectual property rights.”

Visto’s suit tries to block Windows Mobile Direct Push Technology, which Microsoft expects to introduce in the spring, says the New York Times, adding:

“Brian Bogosian, the chief executive of Visto, which is based in Redwood Shores, Calif., said in an interview that the move was not related to the announcement that his company had licensed the NTP patents. ‘It was a coincidence,’ Mr. Bogosian said of the timing. ‘We were in conversation with NTP for months.’

“As part of that deal, NTP acquired a stake in Visto.”

Read:-
Associated Press – Mobile e-mail company suing Microsoft, December 16, 2005
New York Times – Patent Lawsuit Seeks to Block Microsoft’s Wireless E-Mail Service, December 16, 2005

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