Microsoft, Visto settle mobile e-mail patent dispute

Microsoft and Visto, which provides mobile e-mail services, said Monday that they have settled a long-running patent dispute.
The companies did not disclose details of the settlement; Visto had alleged that Microsoft violated its mobile e-mail patents. In a press release, Visto said it has entered into a licensing deal with Microsoft that involves "cash and non-cash consideration."
The case was slated to go to trial on March 10.
In 2006, Visto prevailed in a patent infringement suit brought against Seven Networks. The company ultimately was awarded about $7.7 million in damages.
Still unresolved is a patent suit brought by Visto against BlackBerry maker Research in Motion. Visto alleges that RIM violated four of its patents. That case is scheduled to go to trial in July.
