Truphone, a company we've covered on VoIP Weblog previously, has recently won a preliminary injunction against T-Mobile UK. T-Mobile customers in the UK were being prevented from connecting to Truphone telephone numbers. The main issue boils down to the fact the two companies could not agree on the cost of terminating these calls.

This past Monday, the High Court in the UK placed a preliminary injunction on T-Mobile telling them yes, you must terminate calls to Truphone. The High Court set the termination rate as part of the injunction, which according to the BBC, weren't as high as Truphone was asking for. The parties will need to continue negotiations on terminations rates, else let the courts decide what the rates should be.

I believe as innovators like Truphone start encroaching on the turf of landline and mobile carriers alike, we are going to see more skirmishes like this play themselves out in the markets and the courts. This is only the first stage in a long, protracted battle. Not just between Truphone and T-Mobile, but between all upstarts and established players in the telecom industry.

What do you think? Do carriers who use a common network have the right to prevent you from reaching others who connect to that same network? Leave your thoughts in the comments.

(Hat tip to Andy Abramson, who does PR for Truphone.)