Apple nicked our Iphone technology

A NEW YORK based outfit claims that the fruit-themed toy-maker, Apple has nicked its visual voicemail technology and jacked it under the bonnet of its Iphone.

Klausner Technologies has filed a $360 million suit against Apple and AT &T.

Also involved are Comcast, Cablevision Systems and eBay's Skype for infringing its patent on "visual voicemail."

Klausner wants $300 million from the last three.

As you would expect, the case has been filed in the patent-holder friendly US Court for the Eastern District of Texas.

The complaint involves US patent 5,572,576, which is the same one that Klausner used in 2006 against voice-over-Internet telephone service provider Vonage Holdings.

In that case the two sides settled out of court in October. Vonage now licensees of Klausner's voicemail technology for its Vonage Voicemail Plus service.

Apple's Newton PDA was safe because Jobs' Mob were covered under a licencing deal between Klausner and Sharp which made the beast.

According to Reuters, none of those sued have seen Klausner's allegations and therefore cannot comment. µ