This from a Packet8 customer:
The E911 service from Packet 8 is a great feature for new customers, but a joke for current customers. I have been a loyal Packet 8 customer for 15 months. When E911 service was finally available in my area, they informed me I would have to change my phone number to a new one to get this service. They apparently have no way to simply add Enhanced 911 service to an existing Packet 8 number. They did of course mention that I could keep my existing number and add a second line with the E911 service on it.
If I have to change my number to get 911 service on my Packet 8 number, I'll go over to Vonage or some other VoIP company that has a more technically competant operation.
If I have to change my number to get 911 service on my Packet 8 number, I'll go over to Vonage or some other VoIP company that has a more technically competant operation.
I would have to concur with his sentiments. Why should he have to get a 2nd phone number or change his existing phone number? What is the stumbling block here? Is this a Packet8 technology issue on Packet8's end or some unknown "regulation" stumbling block put up by some telco that prevents e911 being added to existing telephone lines? It would be interesting if the telcos are hampering VoIP providers from provider e911 by forcing VoIP service providers to use a "certain number block" for e911 support.
I'll have to investigate this further.
Technorati
Del.icio.us
Slashdot
Digg
You're right, you shouldn't have to change your number. It's part of your identity, part of how people think of you and, if you have a "vanity" number like "piz-za4u" it's a business asset.
After the FCC ruling, smaller VOIP providers thought they had only three options; 1.)pay the huge start-up costs to complete the engineering for a redundant, reliable connection to every LEC and CLEC and the right emergency call centers in the country, 2.) sleep in horribly, if at all, because they put their customers are at risk with a "sloppy second" solution or 3.) give up and change their business model or retire.
At Affinity VOIP Telecom, the premiere provider of Hosted VOIP Telecom infrastructure to the burgeoning VOIP industry, we were faced with the same choices. We can't afford it alone, and we can't afford to NOT get it.
Instead, Affinity VOIP Telecom negotiated with the nation's e911 backbone provider to connect our servers together, so e911 calls are directed to the right emergency call centers. FCC compliance is assured.
By sharing the opportunity with our friends in the industry Affinity VOIP Telecom wants to be certain every consumer has redundant, reliable e911 service at their fingertips, period.
Share this information with you readers, not as an ad, (we won't sell to consumers, just providers), but as proof that humanity still exist in business and the solution is out there.
www.hostedvoiptelecom/e911.cfm
John Tobin
Affinity VOIP Telecom
jtobin@affinityVOIPTelecom.com
503-268-0238
It's so hard to reach the Packet8 representive if u'r the existing customer.