ith a high-profile deal with Microsoft (Quote, Company Info) in its back pocket, synchronization software firm Pumatech is upping the ante in its patent spat with rival Extended Systems.

Pumatech (Quote, Company Info) is so intent on protecting its core technology from patent infringement, that it brought in an independent consultant to qualify the merit of its claims and simultaneously announced it would continue its litigation against Extended Systems.

The San Jose, Calif.-based Pumatech has moved to the courts to ask for an injunction against future sales of Extended Systems' server and desktop products that allegedly infringe on its patents and is seeking damages for past sales. The company also alleged Extended Systems' infringement of the patents "was willful and deliberate, entitling Pumatech to an award of treble damages, costs and reasonable attorneys' fees."

The escalation of the patent squabble comes just days after Pumatech scored a lucrative deal to provide Microsoft's MSN service with its Intellisync software, which is used to synchronize MSN accounts and Microsoft Outlook software, Pocket PC handheld devices and Palm Desktop software.