Vonage has recently received approval of its first internally developed patent, called "Method and Apparatus for Placing a Long Distance Call Based on a Virtual Phone Number." The invention allows customers to use a virtual number to contact parties at distant locations without incurring long distance charges.

"This is a major milestone for Vonage as we continue to keep innovation at the heart of our corporate value system," said Jeffrey Citron, Vonage Chairman, Chief Strategist and Interim CEO. "We are pleased to have secured this patent, and the depth of talent and creativity here at Vonage that it reflects."

The patent -- No. 7,386,111 -- covers a process for a system that connects calls by converting virtual numbers at an originating point to a physical number associated with a destination point.

A virtual number allows a Vonage customer to have a secondary number where they can be reached. For example, a Vonage customer can get a secondary phone number with the same area code as his mother, so when his mother tries to contact him, she can as a local call even if he lives across the country.