• The Washington Post, Tuesday, June 26, 2007 11:15 AM

A federal judge suggested a compromise yesterday that could allow Internet phone company Vonage to sign up customers while it develops technologies that do not infringe Verizon's patents.

The proposal came after Vonage made its latest plea to reverse a March jury verdict that found the company had infringed on three Verizon patents. In April, a U.S. district court in Alexandria ruled that Vonage could no longer use the crucial technology that connects its online network to the public telephone system and barred the company from signing new customers.

Vonage has said it is working to design a work-around technology, but it warned that it could be a lengthy process. Richard G. Taranto, an attorney for Verizon, said that such a compromise should come with a time limit and that Vonage should have to prove that additional time would produce an acceptable alternative. The panel is expected to issue a decision by early August.

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