Mobile software vendor Openwave Systems files complaints against Apple and RIM, accusing the two companies of infringing five Openwave patents.
According to Openwave, a number of devices-- including iPhone and iPad models, the Blackberry PlayBook and Blackberry Curve 9330-- violate patents involving mobile email, app updates, cloud computing, information navigation and secure mobile connection to a server.
The company says it tried to reach agreements with Apple and RIM before taking legal action, but to no response from either of the two companies.
Openwave is the result of a merger between Phone.com and Software.com, and sells messaging, billing, traffic analysis and management software to mobile operators. It says it holds over 200 patents, and its customers include Verizon, Deutsche Telekom, Sprint Nextel and Vodafone.
It also says it is the first company enabling operators to deploy mobile internet browsing (in 1997) and with technology enabling photo messaging (in 2001).
The 5 patents Apple and RIM are alleged to breaking cover mobile internet access technology.
The current mobile market stands in a bubbling legal lawsuit soup-- and analysts say such a legal climate can only hurt customers and businesses using mobile services, not to mention innovation.
