DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
ITT Corp. (ITT) filed suit against several wireless phone
companies, including a partnership involving Verizon Wireless,
alleging the companies infringed upon a global positioning system
patent.
The company said Verizon Wireless, a joint venture between
Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) and Vodafone Group PLC (VOD),
continues to infringe the patent by selling cellphones adapted to
operate with assisted GPS technology and by providing services
including support for GPS. ITT said it has notified Verizon
Wireless of the patent.
The company also said Verizon Wireless has induced other
companies to violate the patent by encouraging them to sell GPS
phones and provide a cellular network that supports GPS
operations.
Other defendants in the patent-infringement case include LG
Electronics Inc. (066570.SE); Motorola Inc. (MOT); Kyocera Corp.
(KYO); Qualcomm Inc. (QCOM); and Nokia Corp. (NOK).
ITT settled patent-infringement claims several years ago against
other wireless companies in disputes concerning assisted GPS
technology.
The company is demanding a permanent injunction against the
defendants to prevent them from infringing on the patent further,
except where needed to support 911 calls.
ITT's shares were recently up 1.6% at $39.80, while Verizon lost
2 cents to $30.49.
-By Kerry E. Grace, Dow Jones Newswires; 201-938-5089;
kerry.grace@dowjones.com