IP Communications

IpAuctions Inc. has announced plans to auction the worldwide portfolio of U.S. patents in the “click-2-call” space owned by Click Interconnect Inc. (CLICK) of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

 

Proposals for exclusive licensing rights that CLICK could accept before the auction date of September 16, 2008 are currently being considered by Ernesto Liebster, president of CLICK.

CLICK’s patented click-2-call technology is in the performance-based “pay-per-call” online advertising arena. The Kelsey Group, a market research firm, has projected that pay-per-call online advertising will become a $1.4 billion to $4 billion industry by 2009, creating significant opportunity for all players.

 

CLICK also offers many other applications, including search engine results, online directories, Web sites, advertising banners, auction-site postings, branded desktop buttons and any communications delivered via e-mail including newsletters, statements, order confirmations and opt-in e-mail campaigns.

“We are extremely excited about the opportunity to bring these patents to market,” said Liebster in a Monday statement. “The online advertising industry is already a $45 billion business, and according to The Kelsey Group, is expected to reach $147 billion globally by 2012. We strongly feel that our click-2-call portfolio of patents is uniquely positioned to facilitate growth and add value to the online advertising industry.”

According to the U.S. Patent applications, CLICK’s click-2-call technologies are explained in such a way: “It is an objective of the invention to enable a push model for a system and method of operation of a hybrid communication system employing a switched telephone network and a packet data network that implements push model methodology … between a merchant and a prospective end user customer.”

A variety of companies have already been invited to participate in IpAuction’s sale of these patents, including Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, AT&T, Verizon, Vonage, Sprint, GoDaddy, AOL (News - Alert) and other qualified businesses within the Internet and telecommunication industries.

CLICK has already identified dozens of companies that may be infringing on its patents. Liebster believes that the acquiring company, with adequate resources available, could aggressively defend these patents and gain powerful competitive advantage in the online advertising industry.

The offerings made by CLICK could stand to put an acquiring company is strong standing in the online advertising medium. This presents significant opportunity, given the projected growth of this market over the next year. The acquiring company must assess, however, that they have the resources in place to maximize these opportunities as merely purchasing the patents is not enough to guarantee market success.