For 911 via VOIP, help may be on the way

[five_alarm]

GATINEAU, QC - A Gatineau company could be one step closer to solving "the 911 dilemma" that has so far eluded makers and users of voice over IP equipment. CML Emergency Services Inc., with offices in Gatineau and Chicago, today released Patriot 2.0, a new controller platform for emergency call centres that uses voice over IP technology. CML's new VoIP platform promises to better recognize emergency calls made from voice over IP phones, providing more information on a caller's location than traditional platforms. While traditional call centre platforms are able to receive VoIP calls, the location of the caller isn't immediately obvious, said John Thompson, vice-president of marketing and product management.

Source: Ottawa Business Journal (http://www.firehall.com/refer.php?url=http://www.ottawabusinessjournal.com/280741721148240.php&linkid=680&parent=news(headlines)&)

[five_alarm]

NATIONAL - They're three simple digits meant to summon help and save lives in an emergency, but dialling 911 on Internet telephony may not get the reaction you're hoping for. Just ask the gasping man who called while experiencing chest pains or the frantic parents who picked up the phone to report their three-year-old child was missing. All were at home and reached a 911 call centre outside their local area. The incidents are just two of the handful of cases police forces and 911 operators across Canada point to as evidence voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) has leapfrogged existing emergency response systems with potentially dangerous consequences. The people who run Canada's public safety answering points, or PSAPs, are trying to hammer out an industry-wide arrangement with VoIP providers, after being spurred on by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission in April. The CRTC told the companies to offer 911 emergency features "as soon as practicable" and to clearly warn customers if the emergency number service isn't what they'd expect from a traditional phone company.

Source: globetechnology.com (http://www.globetechnology.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20041104.gtsryikes04/BNStory/Technology/&linkid=1079&parent=news(headlines)&)

[five_alarm]

WINNIPEG, MB - As the deadline looms for Internet phone companies to provide basic 911 services, police are warning the public to make sure their service provider can connect them quickly in an emergency.

‘‘If there’s an emergency, we want help to come as quickly as possible,’’ said Cindy Brown, a police 911 communication centre quality assurance officer in Winnipeg. ‘‘We need to get there within minutes.’’

In Canada, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission has given the industry until Aug. 17 to provide basic emergency 911 service to subscribers. There are 87 providers in Canada and about 1,300 worldwide.

Source: brandonsun.com (http://www.brandonsun.com/story.php?story_id=632)

[firefighter26]

I have a VoIP phone. Works great, and I really like getting umlimted local and unlimted long distance, plus a million options like call display, call waiting, call forwarding, voice mail, call block, call forward, etc, for under $40.00 per month! Never had to call 911 with it though, but would use my cell phone for that (and have my fair share of the times).

I never really though about what would happen if I called 911 on the VoIP phone.... I guess I will have to look into that.

[Whitewater_419]

As the owner of Canadianisp.com (http://canadianisp.com/), VoIP is something I've been working with and writing about to Canadian ISPs over the past two years. I've also written a few articles in the public domain that basically says: If you've got small children, elderly people or medically sensitive people in the house, KEEP A LANDLINE as a backup!

There are a lot of people switching to VoIP as their primary line: It's cheap, efficient, etc, and quality has been improving in leaps and bounds. Unfortunately, when your power goes out and there's nothing to power your computer, if you don't have the VoIP analog-to-digital device that lets you use your handset on a DSL line without a computer, you're up the creek in an emergency.

Today's telco's have one massive advantage in the fact that the power they use to run the phone lines is separate from the main grid (or rather, they have some impressive battery backups).

I think it is important for us as fire fighters to make sure that people are aware of some of the caveats with VoIP when it comes to emergency situations, if you've completely replaced your POTS service with VoIP...

[five_alarm]

NATIONAL - Canadian providers of Internet telephone services have been given 90 days to notify customers about the availability and limitations of their emergency services. The notification, issued Thursday by the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission, says the information about calling 911 must be offered to both current and prospective subscribers. The CRTC includes Enhanced 911 (E-911) services as well.

The CRTC issued the order to avoid possible misinterpretations.

By Jan. 18, all Canadian voice over Internet protocol service providers will be required to use television, radio, printed media, on-line material, scripts for sales personnel, websites, customer service agreements, terms of service, starter kits, installation software, and telephone set stickers to inform people about its services.

Limitations in 911 services will have to be repeated every 12 months.

Enhanced 911 service automatically sends customer location information to an emergency centre where an operator dispatches a response service. Basic 911 service connects the caller to a central call centre, which then connects the call to the correct emergency response centre, at which point the caller must identify his or her location for an emergency response service to be dispatched.


Source: globetechnology.com (http://www.globetechnology.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20051020.gtcrtcoct20/BNStory/Technology/)