Vonage has been awarded two new patents.

The first patent — U.S. Pat. No. 8,213,594 — titled "Method and Apparatus for Placing a Long Distance Call Based on a Virtual Phone Number," granted on July 3, 2012, allows consumers to communicate to distant locations without incurring long distance or international calling charges. This is Vonage's third patent related to the use of virtual phone numbers. Vonage's first two patents directed to virtual phone numbers — U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,386,111 and 7,680,262 — were granted on June 10, 2008 and March 16, 2010, respectively. Virtual phone numbers allow people outside a Vonage customer's local calling area to call a Vonage customer 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, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Brazil, South Africa, Australia, and Japan, and in 12 other countries.

The second patent — U.S. Pat. No. 8,194,843 — titled "Method and Apparatus for Busy Override in an Internet Protocol Based Telephone System," granted on June 5, 2012, provides a call waiting override feature for the handling of calls that have been identified as urgent based upon the pattern of call attempts from a given caller.

"We continue to execute on our intellectual property strategy and expand the breadth and depth of our patent portfolio," said Chief Legal Officer Kurt Rogers. "The recent grants of these patents highlight Vonage's commitment to develop innovative and useful technologies to provide best-in-class service to its customers, while protecting its investments and business through patent filings in the United States and abroad."