Apple and AT&T settle Visual Voicemail lawsuit, agree to license tech from Klausner

Apple and AT&T have been embroiled in a lawsuit over their use of the innovative Visual Voicemail system that allow iPhone users to selectively view and playback voicemail recordings. After having overhauled AT&T’s voicemail system to accommodate Apple’s voicemail plans, Klausner Technologies came out and sued both companies, along with a handful of other companies. Klausner sought damages and royalties in the order of $360 million.

With some of the co-defendants having already settled the case, Sprint licensing the technology for their iPhone-fighting Samsung Instinct, and Apple poised to see breakout iPhone 3G sales, both Apple and AT&T have agreed to license the Visual Voicemail tech from Klausner.

“The patent litigation with Apple has been settled. The patents have been licensed to Apple,” company founder Judah Klausner told Reuters. AT&T separately licensed the technology from Klausner.

Terms and conditions of the settlement haven’t been made public, but we’re likely not talking about just a handful of millions here. In the end, Apple and AT&T are now clear to continue using and marketing their Visual Voicemail system for the iPhone and iPhone 3G.

[Via: Reuters]