WASHINGTON-Vonage Holding Corp. Wednesday said it hopes that a 911 Voice over Internet Protocol solution announced last week by Verizon Communications Inc. can be implemented throughout Verizon’s service territory within six months and allow VoIP customers to dial 911 even if they have a non-Verizon-region phone number.
“Unlike other incumbent local exchange carriers, Verizon has not recommended Vonage use a competitive LEC for call delivery, as they recognize the significant limitations of this solution, as it does not accommodate mobile customers or VoIP users on non-local phone numbers. It is important that all Vonage customers can use this solution, those with native phone numbers and those who chose a phone number from other areas,” said Jeffrey Citron, Vonage chief executive officer.
Vonage has recently touted agreements it has entered into with Bell operating companies to allow it to have access to the 911 system
Verizon said last week that it is developing a way for VoIP services, including its own VoiceWing, to be directly connected to 911. It plans to test the system this summer in New York and hopes to make it available in its entire service territory.
“Working with VoIP companies and their vendors, we have identified a means to route VoIP calls so that they appear in emergency response centers much the way wireline and wireless 911 calls do,” said Michael O’Connor, Verizon executive director of federal regulatory affairs. “With the recent and rapid growth of VoIP service, we needed to find a way to integrate VoIP providers into the E911 system in a manner that would reliably serve VoIP end users and that at the same time would not compromise the safety and reliability of the E911 system for other users.”
