Suffern, N.Y. (PRWEB) March 12, 2008

General Patent Corporation International (GPCI), a leading patent licensing and enforcement firm, announced today on behalf of its client, Digital Technology Licensing LLC (DTL), that it has settled its patent infringement lawsuits against Cingular Wireless and AT&T Mobility.

The lawsuit against Cingular Wireless was filed in April 2006 in the Eastern District of Texas (2:06 CV 156) for the infringement of DTL’s U.S. Patent No. 5,051,799 (’799 Patent) by GSM cellular telephone systems and services. A second lawsuit was filed against AT&T Mobility (formerly known as Cingular Wireless) in November of 2007 in the District of New Jersey for the infringement of the ’799 Patent by UMTS cellular services. Both lawsuits have been settled, and AT&T Mobility has licensed the ’799 Patent.

“The settlement with AT&T Mobility and Cingular follows licensing deals with Nokia, Ericson and Samsung,” said Alexander Poltorak, GPCI’s Chairman & CEO. He continued, “This latest agreement is with the largest cell phone service provider in the US.”

DTL owns U.S. Patent No. 5,051,799 titled “Digital Output Transducer.” DTL believes that the technology covered by this patent is used in Adaptive Multi-Rate (AMR) codec and other cellular communication standards including GSM and UMTS. The patented technology is also used to assure backward compatibility of cell phone handsets and base stations.

GPCI represents DTL in the licensing and enforcement of the Patent. DTL has also brought patent infringement suits against Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, Sprint and other companies.

“We are pleased to have been able to reach an amicable settled with Cingular,” said Paul Lerner, GPCI’s General Counsel. “Now we can focus on licensing the rest of the industry.”

Digital Technology Licensing has been represented by the law firm of Lerner, David, Littenberg, Krumholz & Mentlik, LLP (LDLKM), a well-known patent litigation boutique. LDLKM also represents DTL in related lawsuits against Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, Sprint/Nextel and Motorola.

“After litigating this case for almost two years we were all ready to go to trial,” said Stephen Roth of LDLKM, a lead counsel in both cases. “We settled this case a week before the jury selection.”

Digital Technologies Licensing LLC

Digital Technology Licensing LLC (DTL), of Suffern, N.Y., is the owner of U.S. Patent No. 5,051,799 titled “Digital Output Transducer.” DTL is a portfolio company of an idea incubator affiliated with IP Holdings LLC, and is managed by GPCI. A non-exclusive license under the patent is available on reasonable and non-discriminatory terms. For licensing terms, please contact Paul Lerner at (845) 368-4000 x104. For more information, please visit www.digitaltechnologylicensing.com.

About General Patent Corporation International

General Patent Corporation International (GPCI) is a premier intellectual property (IP) licensing and enforcement firm headquartered in Suffern, N.Y. GPCI is the managing member and the exclusive licensing agent of DTL. GPCI represents clients in IP assertive licensing and enforcement matters on a contingency basis and assists IP owners in enforcing their IP rights through patent, trademark and copyright infringement litigation. GPCI is the oldest contingency IP enforcement organization in the United States. General Patent Corporation (GPC) is an affiliate of GPCI providing IP management consulting with a focus on IP strategy and valuation (see www.generalpatent.com). For more information on GPCI, please visit www.patentclaim.com.

About IP Holdings LLC

IP Holdings LLC, another affiliate of GPCI, is an IP-centric merchant banking organization. IP Holdings provides IP-related financial services as well as IP brokerage services. IP Holdings also operates an idea incubator. DTL is a portfolio company of IP Holdings idea incubator. For more information on IP Holdings visit www.ip-holdings.com.

For further information on DTL, GPCI, GPC and IP Holdings contact General Patent Corporation International, Montebello Park, Suffern, NY 10901-3740; telephone: (845) 368-4000; e-mail: info @ gpci.com.

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As a result of the acquisition, Centennial’s 1.1 million wireless subscribers — many of them in rural areas — will have access to the wireless network with the best global coverage and to the nation’s premier lineup of innovative wireless devices, including iPhone 3G, an AT&T exclusive. Centennial’s customers who choose select smartphones — such as the BlackBerry® BoldTM, another AT&T exclusive — and AT&T LaptopConnect cards will also enjoy free access to the nation’s largest Wi-Fi network.

“Mobility is a vital investment area for AT&T and our company’s biggest growth driver,” said Ralph de la Vega, president and chief executive officer of AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “This transaction enhances network coverage for our consumer and business customers and is expected to create long-term value for AT&T’s stockholders.”

“This acquisition offers important benefits for wireless customers of both AT&T and Centennial,” de la Vega said. “Our existing customers will enjoy a better on-network calling experience in the current Centennial roaming areas. And Centennial customers will have access to a mobile-to-mobile network of nearly 75 million subscribers, AT&T’s national and international roaming capabilities, our terrific device offerings and our great portfolio of applications and services.”

The Centennial acquisition demonstrates AT&T’s commitment to continuously enhance network quality and coverage for its wireless customers. The addition of Centennial’s high-quality 850 MHz spectrum will improve service quality for AT&T customers in parts of Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Ohio and Texas.

Centennial also provides switched voice and high-capacity data and Internet Protocol solutions for business customers in Puerto Rico. The transaction gives AT&T a network presence in Puerto Rico and will allow the company to better serve its multinational business customers with a presence in this U.S. territory.

“Centennial has a 20-year history of doing what is best for our customers, and this transaction is a natural next step for us,“ said Michael J. Small, CEO of Centennial. “As a result of this merger, our wireless customers will enjoy greatly expanded network coverage and access to AT&T’s wide range of innovative products and services. Our business customers will benefit from AT&T’s expertise in delivering networking services and solutions to businesses of all sizes.

“I thank our associates for their dedication and hard work in always rising to the challenges of our rapidly changing industry, and I take pride that our company will become part of a world-class organization like AT&T.“

Under terms of the agreement, Centennial stockholders will receive $8.50 per share for a total equity price of $944 million. Including net debt, the total enterprise value is approximately $2.8 billion. AT&T expects the proposed transaction to deliver significant value to its stockholders. The acquisition offers opportunities for synergies in areas including corporate overhead, advertising, customer care and network operations. In the first year after the transaction closes, AT&T expects minimal dilution to EPS and cash flow, driven by upfront integration costs.

The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval, the approval of Centennial’s stockholders and other customary closing conditions. Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe, Centennial’s largest stockholder, has agreed to vote in support of this transaction. AT&T is working to obtain approvals by the end of the second quarter of 2009.

Centennial’s 1.1 million wireless customers are in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands as well as in Kalamazoo, Cass City, Newaygo, Battle Creek, Benton Harbor, Jackson, Roscommon, Allegan, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Muskegon and Saginaw-Bay City, Mich.; Miami, Kosciusko, Huntington, Kokomo, Muncie, Anderson and Lafayette, Ind.; Lima and Findlay-Tiffin and Williams County, Ohio; Lafayette, Alexandria, Iberville, Bastrop and Lake Charles and Caldwell, West Feliciana, Beauregard and DeSoto parishes, La.; Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas; and Claiborne and Copiah counties, Miss.