8X8 Gets Virtual Telephone Extension Patent, "A method for routing telephone calls to communication devices using telephone networks"

8X8 Gets Virtual Telephone Extension Patent http://snapvoip.blogspot.com
This is the second time I am mentioning USPTO, as I just read that it has awarded a patent for Virtual Telephone Extension to 8X8.

"A method for routing telephone calls to communication devices using telephone networks, each communication device having a unique device identifier, the method comprising: assigning identifier data to each of a plurality of users, the identifier data for each user including at least two unique telephone numbers and at least one unique device identifier; and in response to receiving a call through one of the telephone networks, matching a telephone number in the call with one of the at least two telephone numbers assigned to a particular user, and switching the call to a destination communication device designated by the device identifier in the identifier data for the particular user."

But the funny thing is, Andy Abramson alerted that it looks very similar to the patent issued to Vonage for Virtual Numbers, "Method and Apparatus for Placing a Long Distance Call Based on a Virtual Phone Number," a few days ago, 
I am begining to love USPTO, by issuing multiple patents for the same method or product, sueing will take a different path, perhaps they will sue USPTO?
Andy Abramson

Vonage Get A Patent On Virtual Numbers

SIP based Virtual Phone Numbers snapvoip.blogspot.com
Vonage has received a patent No. 7,680,262 – titled "Method and Apparatus for Placing a Long Distance Call Based on a Virtual Phone Number,"
This is basically putting your friends, distant cousins, and others in the same area code as you are, eliminating the distance charge. Virtual Number from Vonage are used for inbound calls, so all features including Caller ID and voicemail assigned to subscribers primary number will continue to work. If the subscriber has a virtual number pointed to one telephone number, all features turned on for his /her telephone number will also work for your virtual number. In the case of multiple virtual phone numbers.they also could be pointing to the same primary number.

HOLMDEL, N.J., March 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Vonage Holdings Corp. (NYSE: VG), a leading provider of high-quality voice and messaging services over broadband networks, today announced the grant of a virtual phone number patent.
The patent -- No. 7,680,262 – titled "Method and Apparatus for Placing a Long Distance Call Based on a Virtual Phone Number," allows consumers to communicate to distant locations without incurring long distance or international calling charges. This is Vonage's second patent related to the use of virtual phone numbers. Vonage's first patent directed to the use of virtual phone numbers -- No. 7,386,111 -- was granted on June 10, 2008.

"We continue to drive innovation that translates into unique products and services for our customers," said Nick Lazzaro, senior vice president of product development and information technology. "This breakthrough takes advantage of our Session Initiation Protocol-based network and enables our customers to save significantly when they communicate with their friends and families across the country or around the world."

Virtual phone numbers allow people outside a Vonage customer's local calling area to call for the price of a local call. Vonage customers can choose a virtual phone number in the calling area of a parent, relative or friend or wherever they want to establish a "virtual" presence. Vonage offers virtual phone numbers across the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and in more than 14 other countries.