Sprint Nextel files patent suits against 4 firms

(Reuters) - Sprint Nextel Corp (S.N), the third largest U.S. mobile service, said it sued four service providers for infringement of its Voice over Packet (VoP) patents and sought injunction and monetary damages.

The company alleges that each of the four companies infringed at least 6 VoP patents by selling services that utilize Sprint's patents.

The lawsuits are against NuVox Communications Inc, Broadvox Holdings LLC, Big River Telephone Co and Paetec Communications Inc, Sprint Nextel said in a statement.

(Reporting by Neetha Mahadevan in Bangalore; Editing by Gopakumar Warrier)