| What is VOIP? |
| VOIP stands for Voice Over Internet
Protocol. Without getting too technical, VOIP uses high speed
internet to make phone calls. In order to use VOIP, residential
customers must have DSL or Cable Modem internet service. |
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| What happens when I dial 9-1-1 on my VOIP phone? |
| This really depends on who your VOIP
service provider is. You can reach emergency assistance by
dialing 9-1-1 on most VOIP phones (Some service
providers may require that you "activate" 9-1-1 dialing by
registering on line. Please check with your provider to see if
this is the case.).
Keep in mind that the 9-1-1 service you
receive on your VOIP phone may not be what you are used to.
Traditional 9-1-1 service provides an address to the call taker
of where you are calling from. With VOIP 9-1-1 service, your
address may not display for the dispatcher. Again, this depends
on the type of VOIP service you have.
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| How do I know what level of 9-1-1 service I have with
my VOIP phone? |
| You should research the features of your
VOIP service as it pertains to emergency dialing. Most providers
post this information on their website. In general, if your VOIP
software can be loaded on a laptop or handheld PDA and used
anywhere there is an internet connection available, it is likely
that when you dial 9-1-1, your address will not display for the
dispatcher. If it does, it will be the address that you
registered online as being your home address (even if you are
using your PDA or laptop to dial 9-1-1 from a location other
than your home). |
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| Do service outages affect my ability to call 9-1-1? |
| Yes. Just as your cordless phone will not
work if there is no power, your VOIP phone will not work without
power. You also will not have VOIP phone service if your
internet connection is terminated or your internet provider is
having service problems. It is the recommendation of Northwest
Central Dispatch System that you have a backup phone available
for use (either landline or cellular) in case your VOIP phone is
not able to be used. |
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| Do I need to notify someone if I move? |
| Yes, you MUST provide your new address to your VOIP service
provider in order to make sure that if you call 9-1-1, it is
routed to the proper jurisdiction. This can usually be done
online. It may take several days to update your record. |
