Voip-Pal.Com, a provider of VoIP services to residential and business customers, has now integrated its lawful intercept patent pending technology into its VoIP switch platform.

The patent pending technology is the result of Voip-Pal's acquisition of Digifonica International Gibraltar. The application for the patent was filed back on November 29, 2007 and is called

“Intercepting Voice Over IP Communications and other Data Transmissions.”

Voip-Pal’s technology is similar to Microsoft (News - Alert) Corporation's "Legal Intercept" Patent Application, but its filing precedes that of Microsoft. Microsoft filed the patent application on December 23, 2009, two years after Voip-Pal/Digifonica's Lawful Intercept Patent Application date.

The Voip-Pal/Digifonica's Lawful Intercept technology explains an efficient way of intercepting voice over the Internet.  This revolutionary technology enables law agencies to perform scheduled and live intercepts (wire-taps) on digital voice telephone conversations. The solution has tested compliant at several relevant agencies in the U.K., and complies with ETSI (News - Alert) (European Telecommunications Standards Institute) and UK NHIS (National Handover Interface Standard) standards. Compliance with these rigorous mandates ensures that the technology can be adopted by all European Union member countries with ease.

Additionally, the technology finds relevance especially among European Union member countries that desire to terminate network providers who do not offer lawful intercept solutions. It will also find rapid adoption in India, a country that has recently made it mandatory to service providers to offer lawful intercept solution.

Voip-Pal/Digifonica's Lawful Intercept patent application has successfully completed the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) International Phase.  After this, the patent application must pass through the National Phase and is expected to be examined by EU member countries in addition to the United States and Canada.

"Federal law enforcement agencies have expressed frustration in trying to track and record criminal and terrorist internet conversations," said Dennis Chang, president of Voip-Pal, in a statement. "Our Lawful Intercept technology would allow government agencies to 'silently record' VOIP communications.

“CALEA (Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act) requires telecommunications carriers and makers of communications equipment to enable their equipment so it can be used for surveillance purposes by federal law enforcement agencies,” Chang added.