It has reached a stage were VoIP have become more accessible for users. A numbers of telecommunication benefits can be reaped using this technology. With the advanced technology people can use their broadband connections for different purposes as well as combine their telephony in one single network for convenience. Let it be any components such as voice, data, email, or web, everything in now made possible through this technology.
The real difference between how VoIP and other regular telephone is the way it operated. That is in VoIP, data is transmitted in the form of packets over the internet whereas in regular telephone it is done in the way of transmitting circuits- or electricity to create a connection between one telephone user and another. Here we can see how traditional switchboard operators had to make the right connection in order to make the right talkers communicate. It is now clear how the traditional telephone method got the name Circuit Switch Networks and VoIP technology the name Packet Switch.
The one problem VoIP faces is utilising the emergency 911 systems. According to the wireless communication and safety public act put forwarded in the year 1999, it was said that all telephone carriers and services will provide 911 services for all of its customers. Initially mobile phones found it very difficult to provide this 911 service but later on they succeeded in their venture.
This sounds as simple the call to 911 is routed to Public Safety Answering Point Dispatcher, where the identity of the caller like name and address will be displayed. More advanced technology has been evolved in Mobile phone carriers were the caller’s location is traced. E911 or Enhanced 911 is the wireless form of 911 and it includes display of caller’s location at the same time extending it to the surrounding range of 50-300 meters.
It is here were VoIP providers fail since it is a wireless connection or a router connected to your broadband High Speed Internet connection. This means that the physical address is not determined, but the IP address. Although some VoIP services can call 911 the Public Safety Answering Point Dispatcher does not displays the caller’s identification or address. This is what happens every time were the VoIP users reach 911 during emergency situations. The problem is very crucial yet cannot be rectified since VoIP is very different from that of how traditional telephone lines function.
The FCC makes clear that the VoIP providers are required to fill in a statement by the customers regarding the unavailability of 911 services in their VoIP service. Enhanced 911 services, just like that of cellular services have been initiated by some VoIP providers which does little help. This is not applicable for users of VoIP using their laptops as they will be identified by their IP address.
The only solution to this problem is to keep a landline phone for such uncertainties. Otherwise keep your mobile phone even if you use VoIP for your calling needs through your laptop, or if you use a VoWiFi phone. All these measures will come in handy when calling 911.
Be aware that the dispatcher will not have any information regarding the caller and thus provide them with necessary details while making 911 phone calls from your VoIP.
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