By Sharla Sikes

Vonage settled with Sprint in a patent infringement suit Monday. A judge awarded $69.5 million to Sprint in the suit, which claimed Vonage had infringed upon six Sprint-Nextel patents.

Two weeks after the guilty verdict, the price tag is now $80 million:  $40 million for a fully paid future license to use its voice-over-packet services portfolio, $35 million for past use of the VoP license and $5 million in prepayment of services.

Ouch.

We’ve already talked about Vonage’s tough year. More patent litigation with Verizon is still in appeal.  Vonage execs are still trying to put a good face on the settlement, but customer confidence is fading.

“We are pleased to resolve our dispute with Sprint and enter into a productive future relationship,” says Shannon O’Leary, Vonage’s general counsel. “We believe this deal is good news for Vonage, our customers and our shareholders.”

“We view this settlement and licensing agreement as a validation of the strength and breadth of our patent portfolio,” says Harley Ball, Sprint Nextel’s vice president of intellectual property. “This is an affirmation of Sprint’s research and development and a testament to the rich history of innovation at Sprint Nextel.”

It may not be all doom and gloom; the $80 million includes licensing for future use of the patents. Also, oddly, Vonage stocks rose and Sprints’ fell after the decision. Stocks were up 123% Monday.

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